Darkthrone
Encyclopedia
Darkthrone is a Norwegian
black metal
band. They formed in 1987 as a death metal
band, but after embracing the black metal style in 1991, they became a driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. For most of this period Darkthrone has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto
and Fenriz
, who have sought to remain outside the music mainstream. Since 2006, their work has incorporated more elements of traditional heavy metal
, speed metal
and punk rock
.
, a small suburb of Oslo
. They were a death metal
band by the name of Black Death whose members were Gylve Nagell, Ivar Enger and Anders Risberget. Main inspirations were Celtic Frost
, Cryptic Slaughter
and Slayer
's Show No Mercy. In fall 1987, the band changed their name to Darkthrone and were joined by Dag Nilsen. Ted Skjellum joined in spring of 1988. During 1988 and 1989, the band independently released four demo tapes: Land of Frost, A New Dimension, Thulcandra, and Cromlech.
They were subsequently signed to the independent record label Peaceville Records
with a four-album contract. In 1990, they recorded their first studio album, Soulside Journey
. Because of a small recording budget, the band could not afford the kind of studio they wanted but, thanks to the members of Nihilist
and Entombed
, they were able to record their album at Sunlight Studios. Although mainly death metal in style, there were some elements of black metal present.
Immediately following the release of this album, the band continued writing and recording new material, recording every new song on tape until it was a full album. These demos were entirely instrumental but they demonstrated the band's gradual shift towards black metal. In 1997, they would be released on the compilation album Goatlord
.
During 1991, Darkthrone adopted the aesthetic style that would come to represent the black metal
scene, wearing corpsepaint and working under pseudonym
s. Gylve Nagell became "Fenriz
", Ted Skjellum became "Nocturno Culto
" and Ivar Enger became "Zephyrous". In August 1991, they recorded their second album, which was released at the beginning of 1992 and titled A Blaze in the Northern Sky
. The album contained Darkthrone's first black metal recordings, and Peaceville Records was originally skeptical about releasing it due to Darkthrone's extreme diversion from their original death metal style. After the album was recorded, bassist Dag Nilsen left the band, and is merely credited as "Session Bass" with no picture on the album.
The band's third album, Under a Funeral Moon
, was recorded in the summer of 1992 and released in early 1993. It marked Darkthrone's total conversion to the black metal style, and is considered a landmark for the development of the genre as a whole. This album also marked the last album on which guitarist Zephyrous would perform.
It was followed by their fourth album, Transilvanian Hunger
, which was released in February 1994. This was Darkthrone's first album to have just two members, Nocturno Culto and Fenriz. The band would remain a duo from this point onwards. Transilvanian Hunger was characterized by a very "raw" or "low fidelity
" recording style and musical simplicity. The album's release caused some controversy: some of its lyrics were written by the infamous Norwegian black metal musician Varg Vikernes
, and its booklet contained the phrase "Norsk Arisk Black Metal", which translates into English as "Norwegian Aryan Black Metal".
.
Their fifth album, Panzerfaust
, was released in 1995. The album was received well, although its production, which is similar to that of Transilvanian Hunger, encountered some criticisms. Their sixth album, Total Death
, was released during 1996 and is notable for featuring lyrics written by four other black metal musicians, and none at all written by the group's main lyricist Fenriz.
During the years 1993-1995, drummer Fenriz was involved with numerous side projects. This included his solo ambient
project Neptune Towers
, recording an album with Satyr as the duo Storm, and playing bass on Dødheimsgard
's debut album. Also he began playing drums for Valhall again, after having been one of the founding members in 1988 but leaving in 1990 to concentrate on Darkthrone.
In 1999, Darkthrone released the album Ravishing Grimness
, and in 2001 their following album, Plaguewielder
. While Transilvanian Hunger and Panzerfaust had songs written solely by Fenriz, these two albums had songs mostly written by Nocturno Culto and were both recorded in Ronny Le Tekrøe's studio at Toten, Norway. This explains the somewhat "clearer" sound on those records.
In the last years of the 90s, two Darkthrone tribute albums were released: Darkthrone Holy Darkthrone
in 1998 and The Next Thousand Years Are Ours in 1999. The band also released Preparing For War, a compilation of songs from 1988–1994. In 2002, the intro of their song "Kathaarian Life Code" appeared in the last scene of the film Demonlover
.
In 2003, the band released the album Hate Them
. Although this record and their next contain electronic
introductions, they remain true to Darkthrone's early black metal style. Sardonic Wrath
was released in 2004. It was the band's last album with Moonfog Productions and their last to be recorded solely in the black metal style. This album was nominated for Norway's Alarm Awards, however the album's entry was withdrawn at the band's request. Their next releases would feature strong crust punk
traits.
Darkthrone released their eleventh album, The Cult Is Alive
, during early 2006. The album represented a shift in the band's style as the music incorporated crust punk
traits. While Darkthrone's black metal roots were still evident, their shift from the genre's typical sound was more noticeable. The Cult Is Alive was the first Darkthrone album to appear on the album chart in Norway, debuting at number 22.
In July 2007, the band released the EP NWOBHM
(an acronym for New Wave of Black Heavy Metal a take-off on the original New Wave of British Heavy Metal) as a preview for their next album. In September that year, Darkthrone released the album F.O.A.D.
(an acronym for Fuck Off And Die). The phrase was used by many thrash metal and punk bands during the 1980s. While the music partially continued the punk-oriented style that was introduced on The Cult Is Alive, this time the band focused more on traditional heavy metal.
Also during 2007, Nocturno Culto
completed and released The Misanthrope, a film about black metal and life in Norway. It includes some of his own solo recordings. In October 2008, Dark Thrones and Black Flags
was released, using much the same style as the previous album. In 2010, the band released the album Circle the Wagons
, which again mixed crust punk along with speed metal and traditional heavy metal.
In late 2010, Peaceville acquired the rights to the band's Moonfog albums and re-issued Panzerfaust
as a two-disc set and on vinyl. The re-issue of Total Death
was set for March 14, 2011.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band. They formed in 1987 as a death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band, but after embracing the black metal style in 1991, they became a driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. For most of this period Darkthrone has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto
Nocturno Culto
Nocturno Culto is a Norwegian musician, best known as the vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist of the influential black metal band Darkthrone. He has been with the band since 1988. He currently works in Norway as a school teacher, and has a son and a daughter...
and Fenriz
Fenriz
Leif Gylve Nagell , better known as Fenriz, is the drummer and lyricist of the Norwegian black metal duo Darkthrone...
, who have sought to remain outside the music mainstream. Since 2006, their work has incorporated more elements of traditional heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
and punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
.
Death metal years
The band that would become Darkthrone formed in late 1986 in KolbotnKolbotn
Kolbotn is the centre of Oppegård, Norway. The population is about 6,000.Kolbotn has several elementary schools, four middle schools and a high school.The Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone formed there in 1986....
, a small suburb of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. They were a death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band by the name of Black Death whose members were Gylve Nagell, Ivar Enger and Anders Risberget. Main inspirations were Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost
Celtic Frost was a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. They are known for their heavy influence on the extreme metal genres. The group was first active from 1984 to 1993, and re-formed in 2001. Following Tom Gabriel Fischer's departure in 2008, Celtic Frost decided to break up again...
, Cryptic Slaughter
Cryptic Slaughter
Cryptic Slaughter was a Santa Monica, California-based crossover thrash band.-Biography:Cryptic Slaughter was formed in 1984 by Les Evans , Scott Peterson and Adam Scott , who met through their mutual participation in the American Youth Soccer League . Soon they were joined by Bill Crooks , a...
and Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
's Show No Mercy. In fall 1987, the band changed their name to Darkthrone and were joined by Dag Nilsen. Ted Skjellum joined in spring of 1988. During 1988 and 1989, the band independently released four demo tapes: Land of Frost, A New Dimension, Thulcandra, and Cromlech.
They were subsequently signed to the independent record label Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records is a British independent metal-oriented record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw in 1987, in Dewsbury, England...
with a four-album contract. In 1990, they recorded their first studio album, Soulside Journey
Soulside Journey
-Credits:* Gylve Nagell – Drums* Ted Skjellum – Lead guitar, vocals* Dag Nilsen – Bass guitar* Ivar Enger – Rhythm guitar...
. Because of a small recording budget, the band could not afford the kind of studio they wanted but, thanks to the members of Nihilist
Nihilist (band)
Nihilist was a Swedish Scandinavian death metal band formed in 1987 by Nicke Andersson and Alex Hellid.The band split-up in 1989 when Johnny Hedlund left to form Unleashed...
and Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
, they were able to record their album at Sunlight Studios. Although mainly death metal in style, there were some elements of black metal present.
Immediately following the release of this album, the band continued writing and recording new material, recording every new song on tape until it was a full album. These demos were entirely instrumental but they demonstrated the band's gradual shift towards black metal. In 1997, they would be released on the compilation album Goatlord
Goatlord (album)
Goatlord is a demo album by Norwegian band Darkthrone.The songs on Goatlord are from an instrumental demo tape recorded in 1990–1991, between the band's first and second albums . These songs were scrapped when the band changed style from death metal to black metal...
.
Early black metal years
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
scene, wearing corpsepaint and working under pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s. Gylve Nagell became "Fenriz
Fenriz
Leif Gylve Nagell , better known as Fenriz, is the drummer and lyricist of the Norwegian black metal duo Darkthrone...
", Ted Skjellum became "Nocturno Culto
Nocturno Culto
Nocturno Culto is a Norwegian musician, best known as the vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist of the influential black metal band Darkthrone. He has been with the band since 1988. He currently works in Norway as a school teacher, and has a son and a daughter...
" and Ivar Enger became "Zephyrous". In August 1991, they recorded their second album, which was released at the beginning of 1992 and titled A Blaze in the Northern Sky
A Blaze in the Northern Sky
A Blaze in the Northern Sky is the second album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It contains the band's first black metal recordings. The album was recorded in August 1991 and released in February 1992.-Recording and release:...
. The album contained Darkthrone's first black metal recordings, and Peaceville Records was originally skeptical about releasing it due to Darkthrone's extreme diversion from their original death metal style. After the album was recorded, bassist Dag Nilsen left the band, and is merely credited as "Session Bass" with no picture on the album.
The band's third album, Under a Funeral Moon
Under a Funeral Moon
Under a Funeral Moon is the third album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was recorded in June 1992 and released in June 1993 by Peaceville Records. Bandmember Fenriz described it as an attempt to create an album that was "100% black metal"....
, was recorded in the summer of 1992 and released in early 1993. It marked Darkthrone's total conversion to the black metal style, and is considered a landmark for the development of the genre as a whole. This album also marked the last album on which guitarist Zephyrous would perform.
It was followed by their fourth album, Transilvanian Hunger
Transilvanian Hunger
Transilvanian Hunger is the fourth studio album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone, released in 1994 through Peaceville Records. It was the band's first album to be recorded with just two members, Nocturno Culto and Fenriz, following the departure of Zephyrous...
, which was released in February 1994. This was Darkthrone's first album to have just two members, Nocturno Culto and Fenriz. The band would remain a duo from this point onwards. Transilvanian Hunger was characterized by a very "raw" or "low fidelity
Low fidelity
Low fidelity or lo-fi describes a sound recording which contains technical flaws such as distortion, hum, or background noise, or limited frequency response...
" recording style and musical simplicity. The album's release caused some controversy: some of its lyrics were written by the infamous Norwegian black metal musician Varg Vikernes
Varg Vikernes
Varg Vikernes is a Norwegian black metal musician, writer, philosopher, religious and political activist, arsonist and convicted murderer.Vikernes was born near Bergen, Norway. In 1991, he founded the one-man music project Burzum, which quickly became popular within the early Norwegian black metal...
, and its booklet contained the phrase "Norsk Arisk Black Metal", which translates into English as "Norwegian Aryan Black Metal".
With Moonfog Records
Darkthrone moved to another independent record label, Moonfog Productions, for subsequent releases. The label was run by Satyr of the black metal band SatyriconSatyricon (band)
Satyricon is a Norwegian black metal band, and the first one in the genre to join a multi-national record label .-Biography:Satyricon was formed in 1990 by Czral and Wargod. Ulver and Satyr soon joined them...
.
Their fifth album, Panzerfaust
Panzerfaust (album)
Panzerfaust is the fifth album by Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was released in 1995 and was their first album with record label Moonfog Productions. It was released in North American under The End Records...
, was released in 1995. The album was received well, although its production, which is similar to that of Transilvanian Hunger, encountered some criticisms. Their sixth album, Total Death
Total Death
Total Death is the sixth album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone. It was recorded in 1995 and released in 1996. All of the album's lyrics were written either by members of other black metal bands or Nocturno Culto .The album was released on CD and LP by Moonfog...
, was released during 1996 and is notable for featuring lyrics written by four other black metal musicians, and none at all written by the group's main lyricist Fenriz.
During the years 1993-1995, drummer Fenriz was involved with numerous side projects. This included his solo ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
project Neptune Towers
Neptune Towers
Neptune Towers is a dark ambient side-project formed in 1993 by Fenriz of Darkthrone.-Background:Neptune Towers' stated goal is "To enable the listeners to keep both feet off the ground." Fenriz credits Klaus Schulze of Tangerine Dream as a big inspiration...
, recording an album with Satyr as the duo Storm, and playing bass on Dødheimsgard
Dødheimsgard
Dødheimsgard is a Norwegian heavy metal band formed in 1994. Dødheimsgard was originally a black metal band, but 1999's 666 International saw them change into an experimental and avant-garde / industrial metal band. In 2000, they shortened their name to DHG...
's debut album. Also he began playing drums for Valhall again, after having been one of the founding members in 1988 but leaving in 1990 to concentrate on Darkthrone.
In 1999, Darkthrone released the album Ravishing Grimness
Ravishing Grimness
Ravishing Grimness is the seventh studio album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone. It was released through Moonfog Productions in 1999.This album marked a noticeable shift in the band's musical and lyrical scope...
, and in 2001 their following album, Plaguewielder
Plaguewielder
Plague Wielder is the eighth album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone. It was released through Moonfog Productions in 2001.-Track listing:*All Songs Written By Nocturno Culto, except where noted....
. While Transilvanian Hunger and Panzerfaust had songs written solely by Fenriz, these two albums had songs mostly written by Nocturno Culto and were both recorded in Ronny Le Tekrøe's studio at Toten, Norway. This explains the somewhat "clearer" sound on those records.
In the last years of the 90s, two Darkthrone tribute albums were released: Darkthrone Holy Darkthrone
Darkthrone Holy Darkthrone
A tribute album to the Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone, with contributions from other leading Norwegian black metal bands, this album was released in 1998 by Moonfog Productions.-Track listing:#"Kathaarian Life Code" - Satyricon...
in 1998 and The Next Thousand Years Are Ours in 1999. The band also released Preparing For War, a compilation of songs from 1988–1994. In 2002, the intro of their song "Kathaarian Life Code" appeared in the last scene of the film Demonlover
Demonlover
Demonlover is a 2002 technological neo-noir thriller film by French writer/director Olivier Assayas. The film stars Connie Nielsen, Charles Berling, Chloë Sevigny, and Gina Gershon with a musical score by Sonic Youth...
.
In 2003, the band released the album Hate Them
Hate Them
-Credits:*Fenriz – drums, bass, rhythm guitar, lyrics*Nocturno Culto – lead guitar, bass, vocals...
. Although this record and their next contain electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
introductions, they remain true to Darkthrone's early black metal style. Sardonic Wrath
Sardonic Wrath
Sardonic Wrath is the tenth album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was released through Moonfog Productions in 2004, and was the band's last album with that record label. Though punk influences are already apparent, it would be Darkthrone's last album recorded solely in the black...
was released in 2004. It was the band's last album with Moonfog Productions and their last to be recorded solely in the black metal style. This album was nominated for Norway's Alarm Awards, however the album's entry was withdrawn at the band's request. Their next releases would feature strong crust punk
Crust punk
Crust punk is a form of music influenced by anarcho-punk, hardcore punk and extreme metal. The style, which evolved in the mid-1980s in England, often has songs with dark and pessimistic lyrics that linger on political and social ills...
traits.
Change in direction
In 2005, Darkthrone confirmed that they had returned to Peaceville Records, after leaving the record label in 1994. They had also started up their own record label, Tyrant Syndicate Productions, to release their future albums. To celebrate their return, Peaceville re-issued the Preparing For War compilation with a bonus CD of demos and a DVD of live performances. Darkthrone's first four albums were also re-released with video interviews about each of them.Darkthrone released their eleventh album, The Cult Is Alive
The Cult is Alive
The Cult is Alive is the eleventh album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. Released in 2006, this album represents a great shift in the band's style, as they incorporate more punk and crust punk traits than before. While the band's black metal roots are still evident, their shift from...
, during early 2006. The album represented a shift in the band's style as the music incorporated crust punk
Crust punk
Crust punk is a form of music influenced by anarcho-punk, hardcore punk and extreme metal. The style, which evolved in the mid-1980s in England, often has songs with dark and pessimistic lyrics that linger on political and social ills...
traits. While Darkthrone's black metal roots were still evident, their shift from the genre's typical sound was more noticeable. The Cult Is Alive was the first Darkthrone album to appear on the album chart in Norway, debuting at number 22.
In July 2007, the band released the EP NWOBHM
NWOBHM (album)
NWOBHM. is an EP from the Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone and released during summer 2007 as a "small taster" for the album F.O.A.D. NWOBHM is usually referred to as New Wave of British Heavy Metal but in this case, N.W.O.B.H.M. means "New Wave of Black Heavy Metal".There are four tracks on...
(an acronym for New Wave of Black Heavy Metal a take-off on the original New Wave of British Heavy Metal) as a preview for their next album. In September that year, Darkthrone released the album F.O.A.D.
F.O.A.D.
F.O.A.D. is the twelfth album by the Norwegian band Darkthrone. Released in September 2007, the album is a further shift from Darkthrone's black metal roots, expanding on the punk-oriented style introduced on their previous album, The Cult is Alive. It also features some parts that are similar to...
(an acronym for Fuck Off And Die). The phrase was used by many thrash metal and punk bands during the 1980s. While the music partially continued the punk-oriented style that was introduced on The Cult Is Alive, this time the band focused more on traditional heavy metal.
Also during 2007, Nocturno Culto
Nocturno Culto
Nocturno Culto is a Norwegian musician, best known as the vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist of the influential black metal band Darkthrone. He has been with the band since 1988. He currently works in Norway as a school teacher, and has a son and a daughter...
completed and released The Misanthrope, a film about black metal and life in Norway. It includes some of his own solo recordings. In October 2008, Dark Thrones and Black Flags
Dark Thrones and Black Flags
Dark Thrones and Black Flags is the thirteenth album by the Norwegian band Darkthrone. Released in October 2008, the music largely follows in the style of their previous album, F.O.A.D....
was released, using much the same style as the previous album. In 2010, the band released the album Circle the Wagons
Circle the Wagons
Circle the Wagons is the fourteenth album by the Norwegian band Darkthrone. The album was released on 5 April 2010. Fenriz, the band's drummer, describes the music as Darkthrone's "own brand of heavy metal/speed metal-punk" and declares it a further shift from their old black metal style...
, which again mixed crust punk along with speed metal and traditional heavy metal.
In late 2010, Peaceville acquired the rights to the band's Moonfog albums and re-issued Panzerfaust
Panzerfaust
The Panzerfaust was an inexpensive, recoilless German anti-tank weapon of World War II. It consisted of a small, disposable preloaded launch tube firing a high explosive anti-tank warhead, operated by a single soldier...
as a two-disc set and on vinyl. The re-issue of Total Death
Total Death
Total Death is the sixth album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone. It was recorded in 1995 and released in 1996. All of the album's lyrics were written either by members of other black metal bands or Nocturno Culto .The album was released on CD and LP by Moonfog...
was set for March 14, 2011.
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Soulside Journey Soulside Journey -Credits:* Gylve Nagell – Drums* Ted Skjellum – Lead guitar, vocals* Dag Nilsen – Bass guitar* Ivar Enger – Rhythm guitar... |
The band's only death metal Death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes.... album (apart from demos). |
| 1992 | A Blaze in the Northern Sky A Blaze in the Northern Sky A Blaze in the Northern Sky is the second album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It contains the band's first black metal recordings. The album was recorded in August 1991 and released in February 1992.-Recording and release:... |
Final release with bassist Dag Nilsen. |
| 1993 | Under a Funeral Moon Under a Funeral Moon Under a Funeral Moon is the third album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was recorded in June 1992 and released in June 1993 by Peaceville Records. Bandmember Fenriz described it as an attempt to create an album that was "100% black metal".... |
Final release with guitarist Ivar Enger Ivar Enger Ivar Enger, also known as "Zephyrous", was black metal band Darkthrone's once-guitarist. He is credited as featuring on the band's first three albums; Soulside Journey, A Blaze in the Northern Sky and Under a Funeral Moon, as well as the Goatlord album; the rehearsal tapes of what was originally... . |
| 1994 | Transilvanian Hunger Transilvanian Hunger Transilvanian Hunger is the fourth studio album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone, released in 1994 through Peaceville Records. It was the band's first album to be recorded with just two members, Nocturno Culto and Fenriz, following the departure of Zephyrous... |
Some lyrics by Varg Vikernes Varg Vikernes Varg Vikernes is a Norwegian black metal musician, writer, philosopher, religious and political activist, arsonist and convicted murderer.Vikernes was born near Bergen, Norway. In 1991, he founded the one-man music project Burzum, which quickly became popular within the early Norwegian black metal... . |
| 1995 | Panzerfaust Panzerfaust (album) Panzerfaust is the fifth album by Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was released in 1995 and was their first album with record label Moonfog Productions. It was released in North American under The End Records... |
Some lyrics by Varg Vikernes Varg Vikernes Varg Vikernes is a Norwegian black metal musician, writer, philosopher, religious and political activist, arsonist and convicted murderer.Vikernes was born near Bergen, Norway. In 1991, he founded the one-man music project Burzum, which quickly became popular within the early Norwegian black metal... . |
| 1996 | Total Death Total Death Total Death is the sixth album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone. It was recorded in 1995 and released in 1996. All of the album's lyrics were written either by members of other black metal bands or Nocturno Culto .The album was released on CD and LP by Moonfog... |
Features lyrics written by four guests. |
| 1999 | Ravishing Grimness Ravishing Grimness Ravishing Grimness is the seventh studio album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone. It was released through Moonfog Productions in 1999.This album marked a noticeable shift in the band's musical and lyrical scope... |
|
| 2001 | Plaguewielder Plaguewielder Plague Wielder is the eighth album by Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone. It was released through Moonfog Productions in 2001.-Track listing:*All Songs Written By Nocturno Culto, except where noted.... |
|
| 2003 | Hate Them Hate Them -Credits:*Fenriz – drums, bass, rhythm guitar, lyrics*Nocturno Culto – lead guitar, bass, vocals... |
|
| 2004 | Sardonic Wrath Sardonic Wrath Sardonic Wrath is the tenth album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was released through Moonfog Productions in 2004, and was the band's last album with that record label. Though punk influences are already apparent, it would be Darkthrone's last album recorded solely in the black... |
Final black metal Black metal Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure.... album. |
| 2006 | The Cult is Alive The Cult is Alive The Cult is Alive is the eleventh album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. Released in 2006, this album represents a great shift in the band's style, as they incorporate more punk and crust punk traits than before. While the band's black metal roots are still evident, their shift from... |
Marked a major change in musical style. |
| 2007 | F.O.A.D. F.O.A.D. F.O.A.D. is the twelfth album by the Norwegian band Darkthrone. Released in September 2007, the album is a further shift from Darkthrone's black metal roots, expanding on the punk-oriented style introduced on their previous album, The Cult is Alive. It also features some parts that are similar to... |
|
| 2008 | Dark Thrones and Black Flags Dark Thrones and Black Flags Dark Thrones and Black Flags is the thirteenth album by the Norwegian band Darkthrone. Released in October 2008, the music largely follows in the style of their previous album, F.O.A.D.... |
|
| 2010 | Circle the Wagons Circle the Wagons Circle the Wagons is the fourteenth album by the Norwegian band Darkthrone. The album was released on 5 April 2010. Fenriz, the band's drummer, describes the music as Darkthrone's "own brand of heavy metal/speed metal-punk" and declares it a further shift from their old black metal style... |
Compilations and tribute albums
- 1998 – Darkthrone Holy DarkthroneDarkthrone Holy DarkthroneA tribute album to the Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone, with contributions from other leading Norwegian black metal bands, this album was released in 1998 by Moonfog Productions.-Track listing:#"Kathaarian Life Code" - Satyricon...
– tribute album featuring eight Norwegian bands. - 1999 – The Next Thousand Years Are Ours – tribute album featuring fourteen bands and a multimedia disc.
- 2000 – Preparing For War – compilation of songs from 1988–1994, re-released with a bonus CD of demos and a DVD.
- 2008 – Frostland TapesFrostland TapesFrostland Tapes is a compilation album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was released through Peaceville Records on June 23, 2008....
– compilation containing the band's early demos (Land of Frost, A New Dimension, Thulcandra, Cromlech), the original instrumental version of Goatlord, and a recording of a concert in Denmark.
EPs
- 2005 – Under beskyttelse av mørke (Under Cover of Darkness) – released exclusively in Japan, contains rehearsal songs from the Under a Funeral Moon recording sessions.
- 2006 – Too Old, Too Cold – contains outtakes from The Cult Is Alive recording sessions.
- 2007 – NWOBHMNWOBHM (album)NWOBHM. is an EP from the Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone and released during summer 2007 as a "small taster" for the album F.O.A.D. NWOBHM is usually referred to as New Wave of British Heavy Metal but in this case, N.W.O.B.H.M. means "New Wave of Black Heavy Metal".There are four tracks on...
– contains outtakes from the F.O.A.D. recording sessions.
Demos
- 1988 – Land of Frost
- 1988 – A New Dimension
- 1989 – Thulcandra
- 1989 – Cromlech
- 1991 – GoatlordGoatlord (album)Goatlord is a demo album by Norwegian band Darkthrone.The songs on Goatlord are from an instrumental demo tape recorded in 1990–1991, between the band's first and second albums . These songs were scrapped when the band changed style from death metal to black metal...
(first released in 1997)
Current members
- Nocturno CultoNocturno CultoNocturno Culto is a Norwegian musician, best known as the vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist of the influential black metal band Darkthrone. He has been with the band since 1988. He currently works in Norway as a school teacher, and has a son and a daughter...
(Ted Skjellum) – lead guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals, lyrics (since 1988) - FenrizFenrizLeif Gylve Nagell , better known as Fenriz, is the drummer and lyricist of the Norwegian black metal duo Darkthrone...
(Gylve Fenris Nagell) – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, rhythm guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals, lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
(since 1988)
Former members
- Ivar EngerIvar EngerIvar Enger, also known as "Zephyrous", was black metal band Darkthrone's once-guitarist. He is credited as featuring on the band's first three albums; Soulside Journey, A Blaze in the Northern Sky and Under a Funeral Moon, as well as the Goatlord album; the rehearsal tapes of what was originally...
(Zephyrous) – guitar (1988–1993) - Dag Nilsen – bass guitar (1988–1991)
- Anders Risberget – guitar (1988)
Related artists
- SatyriconSatyricon (band)Satyricon is a Norwegian black metal band, and the first one in the genre to join a multi-national record label .-Biography:Satyricon was formed in 1990 by Czral and Wargod. Ulver and Satyr soon joined them...
– Nocturno Culto has recorded and performed with the band. - Aura NoirAura NoirAura Noir is a black metal/thrash metal band from Oslo, Norway. Aura Noir is heavily influenced by early thrash bands such as Slayer, Sodom and Kreator, to the latter they have also dedicated some of their songs...
– Fenriz has recorded vocals with the band. - IsengardIsengard (Norwegian band)Isengard is a solo project of Fenriz, famous for being the drummer of Darkthrone, created in 1989.It is rooted on Norwegian black/Viking metal and avant-garde rock on some tracks, and named after the Tolkienian locale Isengard.-Career:...
– solo project of Fenriz, 1989-1995. - Neptune TowersNeptune TowersNeptune Towers is a dark ambient side-project formed in 1993 by Fenriz of Darkthrone.-Background:Neptune Towers' stated goal is "To enable the listeners to keep both feet off the ground." Fenriz credits Klaus Schulze of Tangerine Dream as a big inspiration...
– solo project of Fenriz, 1993-1995. - DødheimsgardDødheimsgardDødheimsgard is a Norwegian heavy metal band formed in 1994. Dødheimsgard was originally a black metal band, but 1999's 666 International saw them change into an experimental and avant-garde / industrial metal band. In 2000, they shortened their name to DHG...
– Fenriz (Bass guitar on first album), 1995. - Storm – Fenriz, 1995.
- ValhallValhall (band)Valhall is a Norwegian doom metal band.It is somewhat noted for having briefly had Fenriz as a member and ex-Ulver drummer, Erik Lancelot as a member at one point as well.-Studio albums:*1995 – Moonstoned...
– Fenriz, 1987–1989, 1993-2000.
External links
- Official website
- [ Darkthrone] on Allmusic
- Darkthrone biography on Peaceville RecordsPeaceville RecordsPeaceville Records is a British independent metal-oriented record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw in 1987, in Dewsbury, England...
- Interview with Fenriz and Nocturno Culto for The Lodge
- Interview with Nocturno Culto for The Lodge
- Review of The Cult is Alive in The Lodge