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Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band hailing from Kolbotn, Akershus. Formed in 1986 as a death metal band named Black Death,[5][6] in 1991, Darkthrone transitioned to a black metal style influenced by Bathory[7] and Celtic Frost[7] and emerged as one of the leading bands in the Norwegian black metal scene.
Darkthrone | |
|---|---|
 Nocturno Culto and Fenriz in 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Kolbotn, Akershus, Norway |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | |
| Past members |
|
Their first three black metal albums — A Blaze in the Northern Sky (1992), Under a Funeral Moon (1993), and Transilvanian Hunger (1994) — are frequently referred to as the "Unholy Trinity."[8][9] These albums are regarded as the pinnacle of the band's career and among the most influential releases in the black metal genre.
Darkthrone has been a duo consisting of Fenriz and Nocturno Culto since guitarist Zephyrous departed from the band in 1993. While they have aimed to remain outside the mainstream music scene, in recent years they have collaborated with the National Library of Norway for exhibitions focused on Norwegian cultural history and black metal.[10][11] Since 2006, Darkthrone's music has diverged from traditional black metal, incorporating more elements of classic heavy metal, punk, and speed metal,[12] while their more recent albums have also incorporated elements of doom metal.
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Death metal years: 1986–1991
The band that would eventually become Darkthrone formed in late 1986 in Kolbotn, a small town south of Oslo. Originally known as Black Death, they were a death metal band composed of members Gylve Nagell, Ivar Enger, and Anders Risberget. Their primary inspirations included Autopsy, Venom, Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Slayer, and Nocturnus. In late 1987, the band changed their name to Darkthrone and welcomed Dag Nilsen as a new member. Ted Skjellum joined in the spring of 1988. During 1988 and 1989, the band independently released four demo tapes: Land of Frost, A New Dimension, Thulcandra, and Cromlech.
Subsequently, they signed a four-album contract with the independent record label Peaceville Records. In 1990, they recorded their debut studio album, Soulside Journey. Due to a limited recording budget, the band was unable to secure the studio they desired. However, thanks to the support of members from Nihilist and Entombed, they were able to record their album at Sunlight Studios. Although primarily a death metal record, it featured elements of black metal in terms of artwork and songwriting.
Following the release of this album, the band continued writing and recording new material, working on tape until a complete album was ready. These tracks were entirely instrumental, showcasing the band's gradual shift toward black metal. In 1996, the completed album Goatlord was released, featuring vocals added by Fenriz.
Black metal years
Early black metal years: 1991–1994
In 1991, influenced by Euronymous of Mayhem, Darkthrone adopted the aesthetic that would come to symbolize the black metal scene, donning corpse paint and working under pseudonyms. Gylve Nagell became "Fenriz," Ted Skjellum became "Nocturno Culto," and Ivar Enger adopted the name "Zephyrous." In August 1991, they recorded their second album, which was released in early 1992 and titled A Blaze in the Northern Sky. This album featured Darkthrone's first black metal recordings, although Peaceville Records was initially skeptical about releasing it due to the band's drastic shift from their original death metal style.[13] After the album was recorded, bassist Dag Nilsen left the band, stating that he did not wish to play black metal; he is credited only as "session bass" and does not appear in any photographs 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 complete transition to the black metal style and is considered a landmark in the development of the genre as a whole. This album also represented the last collaboration with guitarist Zephyrous.
Following this, their fourth album, Transilvanian Hunger, was released in February 1994. This marked the first album to feature only two members, Nocturno Culto and Fenriz. Fenriz was credited with all instrumentation and songwriting, while Nocturno Culto contributed solely vocals. From this point forward, the band would operate as a duo. Transilvanian Hunger was characterized by a raw or low-fidelity recording style, featuring monotone riffing with minimal melody. The album's release sparked some controversy, as half of its lyrics were penned by the Norwegian black metal musician Varg Vikernes, and the booklet contained the phrase "Norsk Arisk Black Metal," which translates to "Norwegian Aryan Black Metal" in English.
With Moonfog Records: 1995–2004
Darkthrone transitioned to another independent record label, Moonfog Productions, for their subsequent releases. This label was run by Satyr of Satyricon.
Their fifth album, Panzerfaust, was released in 1995. Its production closely resembled that of Transilvanian Hunger, with Fenriz credited for all instrumentation and songwriting, while Nocturno Culto contributed solely vocals. The lyrics for the track "Quintessence" were written by Varg Vikernes. Their sixth album, Total Death, was released in 1996 and is notable for featuring lyrics penned by four other black metal musicians, with none written by the band's primary lyricist, Fenriz.
During the years 1993–1995, drummer Fenriz was involved in numerous side projects. This included his solo dark ambient project Neptune Towers, his solo folk black metal project Isengard, recording an album with Satyr as part of the trio Storm, and playing bass on Dødheimsgard's debut album. Additionally, he resumed playing drums for Valhall, having been one of the founding members in 1988 before leaving in 1990 to focus on Darkthrone.
On 6 April 1996, Easter Eve, Darkthrone played their last live gig at "A Night of Unholy Black Metal"[14] in a sold-out Rockefeller in Oslo.
In 1999, Darkthrone released the album Ravishing Grimness, followed by their next album, Plaguewielder, in 2001. While Transilvanian Hunger and Panzerfaust featured songs exclusively written by Fenriz, these two albums contained tracks predominantly composed by Nocturno Culto and were both recorded at Ronny Le Tekrøe's studio in Toten, Norway. This accounts for the somewhat "clearer" sound on those records.[15]
In the latter part of the 1990s, two tribute albums dedicated to Darkthrone 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 featuring songs from 1988 to 1994. In 2002, the intro of their song "Kathaarian Life Code" was included in the final scene of the film Demonlover.
In 2003, the band launched the album Hate Them. Although this record and the following one incorporate electronic introductions, they remain faithful to Darkthrone's early black metal style. Sardonic Wrath was released in 2004, marking the band's last album with Moonfog Productions and their final work recorded exclusively in the black metal style. This album received a nomination for Norway's Alarm Awards; however, the entry was withdrawn at the band's request. Their subsequent releases would exhibit strong crust punk influences.
Punk-influenced years: 2005–2010
In 2005, Darkthrone announced their return to Peaceville Records after departing from the label in 1994. They also launched their own record label, Tyrant Syndicate Productions, to release their future albums. To commemorate their return, Peaceville reissued the Preparing for War compilation, which included a bonus CD of demos and a DVD of live performances. Additionally, Darkthrone's first four albums were re-released with video interviews about each.
In January 2006, the group released the EP Too Old, Too Cold, featuring the track "High on Cold War," performed by Enslaved's vocalist Grutle Kjellson. The EP also included a cover of "Love in a Void" by Siouxsie and the Banshees.[16] For the first time in their career, the band produced a music video for the EP's title track.[17] Too Old, Too Cold also marked Darkthrone's first record to chart, reaching the top 15 of the best-selling singles in Norway and Denmark.[18][19] That same year, Darkthrone released their eleventh album, The Cult Is Alive. This album marked a stylistic shift, incorporating crust punk elements. While Darkthrone's black metal roots remained evident, their departure from the genre's typical sound was increasingly pronounced. The Cult Is Alive was the first Darkthrone album to enter the album chart in Norway, debuting at number 22.[20]
In July 2007, the band released the EP NWOBHM (an acronym for 'New Wave of Black Heavy Metal', a play on the original 'New Wave of British Heavy Metal') as a preview of their next album. In September of that year, Darkthrone released F.O.A.D. (an acronym for Fuck Off and Die). This phrase was frequently employed by numerous thrash metal and punk bands during the 1980s. While the music continued the punk-oriented style introduced on The Cult Is Alive, this time the band placed greater emphasis on traditional heavy metal.
Also in 2007, Nocturno Culto completed and released The Misanthrope, a film exploring black metal and life in Norway. The film includes some of his own solo recordings. In October 2008, Dark Thrones and Black Flags was released, following a style similar to that of the previous album. In 2010, the band released Circle the Wagons, which showcased significantly fewer crust punk elements in favor of strong speed metal and traditional heavy metal characteristics.
2010 to present
In late 2010, Peaceville acquired the rights to the band's Moonfog albums and reissued Panzerfaust as a two-disc set and on vinyl. The reissue of Total Death was scheduled for 14 March 2011. In July 2012, Darkthrone announced a new album titled The Underground Resistance, which was released on 25 February 2013.[21] This album marked a complete departure from black metal and blackened crust, musically returning to classic heavy metal and speed metal. The band released their 16th studio album, titled Arctic Thunder, on 14 October 2016. This album represented another significant musical shift for the band, featuring a rawer, more blackened sound reminiscent of their 1990s output, but with the classic metal influences of the previous record.[22][23]
On 22 October 2016, the band announced via Facebook that they would be releasing a compilation album entitled The Wind of 666 Black Hearts. Released on 25 November 2016, the album comprises rehearsals recorded in 1991 and 1992 for songs that later appeared on A Blaze in the Northern Sky and Under a Funeral Moon.[24]
In March 2019, Darkthrone announced the release of their seventeenth studio album, Old Star, which came out on 31 May of the same year. The album featured a stronger emphasis on doom metal characteristics than previous releases, with their Candlemass influences becoming more apparent. In January 2021, the band announced they had completed the recording of a new album.[25] In April 2021, a box set containing early and rare material titled Shadows of Iconoclasm was unveiled.[26] The band's eighteenth studio album, Eternal Hails......, was released on 25 June 2021, through Peaceville Records on physical media and digital platforms. Musically, the album continues the band's incorporation of traditional doom metal, heavily influenced by Candlemass, alongside inspiration from other bands such as Trouble and Black Sabbath.[27][28] The band's nineteenth album, Astral Fortress, was released on 28 October 2022.[29] The band's twentieth album, It Beckons Us All......., is set to be released on 26 April 2024. It was recorded in April and May of 2023 at Chaka Khan Studio in Oslo.
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Current
- Fenriz (Gylve Fenris Nagell) – drums, guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals, lyrics (1986–present)
- Nocturno Culto (Ted Skjellum) – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, lyrics (1988–present)
Former
- Zephyrous (Ivar Enger) – guitars (1986–1993)
- Anders Risberget – guitars (1986–1988)
- Dag Nilsen – bass (1988–1991)
Timeline
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Peak positions | Notes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | SWE | FIN | GER | SUI | BE (WA) | |||||
| 1991 | Soulside Journey | The band's only death metal studio album. | ||||||||
| 1992 | A Blaze in the Northern Sky | Recorded in August 1991[30] and released in February 1992. Final release with bassist Dag Nilsen. Since 2020, the album has been on permanent display in the National Library of Norway.[31] | ||||||||
| 1993 | Under a Funeral Moon | Recorded in June 1992 and released in June 1993. Final release with guitarist Ivar Enger. | ||||||||
| 1994 | Transilvanian Hunger | Recorded in November–December 1993, with vocals added early in 1994. Released in February 1994. Featured four songs with lyrics written by Varg Vikernes. | ||||||||
| 1995 | Panzerfaust | Recorded in February–April 1994 and released in June 1995. Featured one song with lyrics written by Varg Vikernes. | ||||||||
| 1996 | Total Death | Featured lyrics written by four guests from other black metal bands. | ||||||||
| 1996 | Goatlord | Instrumental rehearsal demo; recorded in late 1990 and early 1991, released on CD as an album by Moonfog Productions in 1996, including vocals overdubbed by Fenriz in 1994. | ||||||||
| 1999 | Ravishing Grimness | |||||||||
| 2001 | Plaguewielder | |||||||||
| 2003 | Hate Them | |||||||||
| 2004 | Sardonic Wrath | |||||||||
| 2006 | The Cult Is Alive | 22 | 59 | Represented a shift in their style with traits of crust punk. | ||||||
| 2007 | F.O.A.D. | |||||||||
| 2008 | Dark Thrones and Black Flags | |||||||||
| 2010 | Circle the Wagons | 23 | ||||||||
| 2013 | The Underground Resistance | 23 | 50 | 35 | ||||||
| 2016 | Arctic Thunder[22][23] | 40 | 56 | |||||||
| 2019 | Old Star | |||||||||
| 2021 | Eternal Hails...... | 31[32] | 9[33] | 160[34] | ||||||
| 2022 | Astral Fortress | 56[35] | 21[36] | 23[37] | 51[37] | |||||
| 2024 | It Beckons Us All......[38] | 47[39] | ||||||||
Demos
- 1988 – Land of Frost
- 1988 – A New Dimension - rehearsal demo
- 1989 – Thulcandra
- 1989 – Cromlech - live demo
EPs and singles
- 2005 – Under Beskyttelse av Mørke (Under Cover of Darkness) – outtakes from the Under a Funeral Moon rehearsal sessions; released only in Japan.
- 2006 – Too Old, Too Cold – outtakes from The Cult Is Alive recording sessions.
- 2006 – Forebyggende Krig – single.
- 2007 – NWOBHM – outtakes from the F.O.A.D. recording sessions.
- 2013 – Leave No Cross Unturned (Edit) – single.
- 2017 – Burial Bliss / Visual Aggression – single.
- 2019 – The Hardship of the Scots – single.
- 2021 – Hate Cloak – single.
Compilations and tribute albums
- 1998 – Darkthrone Holy Darkthrone – 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 in 2005 with a bonus CD of demos and a DVD.
- 2008 – Frostland Tapes – 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.
- 2011 – Sempiternal Past – The Darkthrone Demos – re-mastered versions of Darkthrone's demos (including bonus tracks).
- 2013 – Introducing Darkthrone – eighteen-song album containing Darkthrone songs from past albums and singles.
- 2013 – Peaceville Presents... Darkthrone.[40]
- 2014 – Black Death and Beyond – compilation released as a vinyl box set and book.
- 2016 – The Wind of 666 Black Hearts – compilation of demos from 1991 and 1992.
- 2021 – Shadows of Iconoclasm – compilation box set of early material.
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