The Swiss black metal band Samael formed sometime between the first and second waves of black metal. They began releasing full-length albums around the time Mayhem, Darkthrone, and others were beginning to be discovered. Samael's early albums were similar in sound to the Norwegian black metal sound and were generally well-received.
However, Samael was constantly evolving their sound. They were adding more and more industrial influences to their music. Potentially influenced by such acts as Nine Inch Nails or Ministry, the band's sound was morphing into something else entirely.
By the early 2000's Samael had fully emerged into an industrial metal band. But yet, they did it reasonably well. Their industrial albums were well-regarded as well. Obviously not by many of the same people who love their early black metal output, but Samael gained new fans and did not completely embarrass themselves by trying a new style.Then, Samael released Above in 2009 and faster than they changed into an industrial metal band, they were back to being a black metal band.
I happen to enjoy both incarnations of Samael. But not many bands can claim they got in when black metal was big, changed to industrial metal, and then back to black metal, all without missing a beat.
I'm not terribly familiar with this band, but I'd have to say Theatre of Tragedy has the biggest change in direction ever to happen with a single album. They went from an understated gothic metal style on Aégis to a bouncy synth-pop/rock on Musique (sounding like Madonna on steroids), with only 2 years between the albums. They then went back to gothic metal several years later, but still incorporated some of the upbeat parts of their synth-pop days. I like all of them, but their first album after switching back to gothic metal (Storm) is my favorite.
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