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Darkthrone

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This article is about the Norwegian black metal band. For the MMORPG, see Dark Throne.

Darkthrone is a highly influential Norwegian black metal band formed in 1983. They began as a death metal outfit under the name of Black Death.

Contents

Biography

Forming in 1986 as Black Death, the band released several demo cassettes and were subsequently signed to Peaceville Records on a four album contract. After changing their name to Darkthrone, the band released their first full length album, Soulside Journey. The album was cleanly produced in a technical death metal style characterised by progressive song structure, complex drumming patterns, and fast, accurate riffing. Soon afterward, Darkthrone adopted the aesthetic style that would come to represent the black metal scene, wearing corpsepaint and working under occult pseudonyms. At this point, bassist Dag Nilsen left the band (but still played, listed as "Session Bass", on their next album A Blaze in the Northern Sky). Darkthrone subsequently recorded and released the seminal black metal album A Blaze in the Northern Sky, which was strongly inspired by the works of Bathory and Celtic Frost. Peaceville Records was originally skeptical about releasing the album due to Darkthrone's diversion from the death metal style.

The band delved even deeper into the black metal sound with the their following album, Under a Funeral Moon, which has since established itself as a landmark for the genre as a whole. It was followed by their quintessential masterpiece Transilvanian Hunger, which is generally regarded as Darkthrone's finest work, although the band itself regards it as being a rather untypical Darkthrone record. (In reality, Transilvanian Hunger is considered by a vast majority to be Darkthrone's best album. It is listed as one of the ten best Black Metal recordings of all time on Pagan Reviews. All of these early black metal albums were characterised by raw sound, extremely low fidelity recording quality, and musical simplicity. Darkthrone remains a powerful force in the black metal genre, although they have experimented with their influences over the years.

Darkthrone received some criticism for a statement that they had intended to print on the Transilvanian Hunger album: "We would like to state that Transilvanian Hunger stands beyond any criticism. If any man should attempt to criticize this LP, he should be thoroughly patronized for his obviously Jewish behavior." Darkthrone later retracted this statement due to pressure from Peaceville Records, although the phrase "Norsk Arisk Black Metal" ("Norwegian Aryan Black Metal") remained on the pressing until it was re-issued in 2001. When Panzerfaust came out the liner notes included "Darkthrone is certainly not a Nazi-band nor a political band, those of you who still might think so, you can lick Mother Mary's asshole in eternity" which cleared Darkthrone's name as a National Socialist Black Metal band.

Darkthrone moved to the Moonfog label (of Satyr from Satyricon) for subsequent releases.

After the recording of their next album Panzerfaust, Zephyrous (Ivar Enger) left the band, supposedly disappearing into misanthropy, although he did not perform on either Transilvanian Hunger or Panzerfaust. (NOTE: This is somewhat disputed but the band continues to state that Zephyrous's last musical contribution was Under A Funeral Moon).

Their next release, Total Death, was recorded with guest vocal and lyrics by various scene musicians of the time, the merit of which is widely disputed.

The Goatlord album was a rehearsal tape recorded between Soulside Journey and A Blaze In The Northern Sky which was scrapped after the band had changed its sound. Drummer Fenriz and Satyr (of Satyricon) added vocal tracks to the recording in 1996.

Since 1999 Fenriz has also been recording with Eibon, a "supergroup" of sorts, with Satyr of Satyricon, Killjoy of Necrophagia and Phil Anselmo of Pantera, although their debut album seems destined to never be released.

In 2005, Darkthrone confirmed they had returned to Peaceville Records after leaving in 1994. They had also started up their own record label Tyrant Syndicate Productions, which will release their albums in the future (with Peaceville/Snapper Music distributing). To celebrate their return, Peaceville re-issued the Preparing For War CD Anthology covering their first era at Peaceville with a bonus CD of additional demos and a DVD of rare live performances.Peaceville has also re-released the four original recordings on their label with an added interview video explaining the recording process and their time during the period of these releases.

Darkthrone released their 12th album, The Cult Is Alive, on February 27th, 2006. This was preceded by an EP titled Too Old, Too Cold which featured exclusive tracks. Additionally, they filmed a video for Too Old, Too Cold which is included on the Special Edition CD of The Cult Is Alive. The album brings with it a punk aesthetic/style to the songs.

Recently noted on Peaceville's website, Guitarist/Vocalist Nocturno Culto is working on a film and additionally, he and Fenriz are already beginning pre-production for their next album.

Discography

Demos, Promos, EPs and Bootlegs

Albums

Band members

Current members

Former members

See also

Neptune Towers

External links

 

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