Darkthrone is probably the greatest black metal band of them all. They started out as far back as in late 1986 when they started rehearsing in Kolbotn, Norway, but started out even earlier than that under the name Black Death. As far as we know there weren't released any demos from Black Death. The band consists today of Fenriz alias Gylve Nagell alias Hank Amarillo and Nocturno Culto alias Nocturnal Cult alias Ted Skjellum, and they have had some other members through the years, the first to go was Dag Nilsen who took care of the bass playing duties on the demo's and on Soulside Journey. He also did the session bass on A Blaze In The Northern Sky. The second one was Zephyrous alias Ivar Enger who, at least according to the rumours, dissappeared after the release of Panzerfaust, which was a great loss for Darkthrone.
Fenriz
Nocturno Culto
Zephyrous
Moonfog has released a Darkthrone tribute featuring norwegian bands as Dødheimsgard, Emperor, Gorgoroth, Immortal, etc. Not all the interpretations on this album are equally good. It's called Holy Darkthrone and we'll maybe do a review on it in the future.
The Darkthrone demos were kindly made available to us by our pal Ben Gaustad.
Land Of Frost, Demo 1988. Rating: 60
This is their first demo. The cover is very similar to the Total Death cover, with the landscape and the jupiter
planet in the sky. As you can see Nocturno Culto did not take a part in this demo, where Fenriz did the vocals.
A guy named Anders played guitars, but who he is continues to be a mystery. The music featured is very early type death metal,
played by a band who has quite a long way to go before being able to get a recording deal.
A New Dimension, Demo 1988. Rating: 73
There is only one instrumental song called Twilight Dimenson/Snowfall featured on this recording, but it's pretty long. So that help's out alot. The tightly played assault from the norwegians
shows that the band have rehearsed quite alot since the release of their first demo. This is good, but still not quite there yet. Nocturno Culto joined in as 2nd
guitarist on this demo.
Agantyr rates this 65.
Gryn thinks this demo deserves a rating of 80. It's very good for a demo
Thulcandra, Demo 1989. Rating: 75
The third demo, which features two songs. Eon/Thulcandra and Archipelago. The vocals are death and were done by Fenriz
and doesn't sound that
good, not to say bad, but the drumming is good old Fenriz, and the music is great.
Cromlech, Demo 1989. Rating: Not Rated
Darkthrone's last demo. The title Cromlech is the first track on their first full length Soulside Journey.
This demo is 3 tracks long. All 3, Sempiternal Past/Presence View Sepulchrality, Accumulation of Generalization and The Watchtower,
are also featured on Soulside Journey, but of course these are demo recordings. Iconoclasm Sweeps Cappadocia demo from Soulside Journey are
present on the Darkthrone-Cromlech/Isengard-Spectres Over Gorgoroth promotape as a bonus track. This was where Nocturno Culto started
to do the vocals.
We haven't heard this one through yet, so please wait for a rating.
Soulside Journey, Peaceville 1990. Rating: 83
With its complex guitar riffs and impressive drumming, this was hailed by many critics as a masterpiece when it first came out.
But as time progressed and the band moved on and released A Blaze In The Northern Sky, many forgot about Soulside Journey.
Because of our love for technical played metal (bands such as: Death, Cynic and Atheist), we must say that we have not forgotten about
this piece. Music wise we love the opening riff in Cromlech, and a track like Grave With A View is almost synonymous with the Repeat button.
As for the production, we were quite shocked to find out that it was recorded in the Sunlight Studios. Mainly because it
didnīt sound like any of the other recordings made there. All in all, a great release from a band whose future was not destined for playing death metal.
A Blaze In The Northern Sky, Peaceville 1991. Rating: 87
This is a real classic. This record set the standard for black metal as we know it today. It has got that very dirty rough demo sound that makes it
so unique and extremely evil. The band's image changed from being just an ordinary death metal act to the originators of this new style in black metal.
Gylve Nagell became Fenriz who still wrote the lyrics and did some backingvocals plus the percussions, and Ted Skjellum became Nocturno Culto doing the lead guitar and vocals.
Zephyrous, collectively known as Ivar Enger, plays the rhythm guitars, and Dag Nilsen did the bass, but only on a session basis. Mainly because he still wanted too play this techno death metal which had been their trademark untill now.
The first track on this album, Kathaarian Life Code, has an intro that is very cool and sinister and builds up an atmosphere which eventually EXPLODES in an orgasm
of evil percussions and rhythms from hell. Throughout the album the high frequencies are very clear and earaching, which they are supposed to be, let us remind you,
this is what makes it so great, and the bass is almost gone, EXCEPT when Fenriz plays
the extremely deep drumrolls that makes your bones shiver and the hairs on your back raise.
Under A Funeral Moon, Peaceville 1993. Rating: 90
With itīs dark production and spine crushing songs, this will always be Agantyr's favorite Darkthrone album. The record opens with
Natassja In Eternal Sleep, a highly memorable Darkthrone song. Mainly because of the before mentioned production
and also because of the main riff executed grimly by Nocturno Culto. But Natassja.. isnīt the only great track on this masterpiece, in fact
the only track that lacks something is Inn I De Dype Skogers Favn. With itīs very monotonuos riff and drumming, it tends to get a bit boring.
But all in all, this is a must for all who are the least bit interessted in what REAL black metal sounds like, no wimpy Cradle Of Filth rip off
thatīs for sure!
Transilvanian Hunger, Peaceville 1994. Rating: 66
This album contains one of the best Darkthrone tracks ever! Namely the titletrack. With itīs chilling main riff, it continues to send shivers
down our backs every time we listen to it. But thatīs about it really. The remaining songs (with a few exceptions), have a tendency to become
rather monotonuos after a couple of spins in the cd player. This, of course, reflects badly upon the remainder of the album. Unfortunately,
Not their best.
Agantyr wrote this review and thus gives Transilvanian Hunger a rating of 57.
Gryn thinks it is not as bad as Agantyr thinks. I think it is good traditional Darkthrone music, but nothing out of the ordinary though. Rating is 75.
Panzerfaust, Moonfog, 1995. Rating: 90
With itīs immensely rotten garage sound this is probably one of the most brutal records ever! (closely followed by Gorgorothīs
classic Under The Sign Of Hell) Music wise, Panzerfaust differs a bit from the other Darkthrone releases, with itīs highly Celtic Frost
influenced music- structures and riffs. Allthough tracks like En Vind Av Sorg "A Wind Of Sorrow" and Hans Siste Vinter "His Last Winter" continues the feeling of a track like
Transilvanian Hunger. Classic stuff! Gryn's favorite Darkthrone album.
Goatlord, Moonfog, 1996. Rating: 90
This is more like it! Recorded a while after Soulside Journey, Goatlord continues in the same vein as their earlier techno death metal,
allthough with a hint of black metal, in the form of Nocturno Culto's vocals which where re-recorded in 1994. Sadomasochistic Rites, Black Daimon,
Toward(s) the Thornfields and (Birth of Evil) Virgin Sin are tracks which we recommend the eager listener to put on headphones while listening to,
mainly to hear the all little technical wonders tightly played by Fenriz and co. hidden beneath the blurry and fuzzy "production". One can only wonder how far Fenriz
would have evolved his drumming abilities, because what he plays on this one is simply outstanding at times.
A lot of people will complain about the production, but we think this helps the record in a historical kind of way. Bare in mind, that this is only a rehersal.
With itīs highly technical structures, plus the tightly played assault of the norwegians, makes this album a must in anyones Darkthrone collection!
Total Death, Moonfog, 1996. Rating: 63
Unfortunately this was somewhat of a disappointment to us, and not at all a match for the already classic Panzerfaust album.
It lacks the energy and intensity
as displayed on the former albums. A bit of the old evil riffstyle though has snuck into this album in the form of the last few minutes of
the first track Earth's Last Picture, which is the only riff that qualifies to be compared to the magnificent ones of the former albums.
Ravnajuv and The Serpent's Harvest are ok tracks, but that's about it. It is as if Darkthrone didn't put their hearts into this.
This is also the first record without Zephyrous
Ravishing Grimness, Moonfog, 1999. Rating: 55
Their newest release was not well taken by the audience, as the Total Death album in general oppinions was a step backwards from the good old Darkthrone-style, and
because of the rumours saying that it is a commercial album completely betraying the sacred Darkthrone regulations of noncommercialism
and that Moonfog was pushing Darkthrone to make a new release, now that Satyricon
was releasing their Rebel Extravaganza. A recordcompany doing this often indicates the release of a halffinished product, and that
the band is wrapped around their littlefingers depending on the recorddeal.
Well is it true then? Is Ravishing Grimness as bad as we have all feared?
Well, it is nothing like Panzerfaust. It's in the same category as Total Death, displaying the same kind of dullness and lack of energy and soul. It has a production not suitable for Darkthrone as we would want to remember them. It seems to us, that Fenriz and Nocturno Culto is getting tired of making this kind of music, and we're not sure if Darkthrone will ever make another album that could please the crowd again. If their hearts aren't in it, they might aswell stop making albums, 'cause since they've been going downhill since the boring Total Death, they risk losing the respect of some of their fans. We, of course, will always respect them for all they've given us in the form of Darkthrone, Isengard, Neptune Towers and Storm, in which Fenriz has given us the absolutely best in norwegian black metal.
The Claws Of Time, is the only track that qualifies for a positive response. It actually is very interesting and shows us, that this band was once one of the greatest. The Claws Of Time is in the style of the great classic Transilvanian Hunger, but the dull production somewhat ruins the song, as it takes away the atmosphere that could make this track one of the most evil they've ever made, and what a shame this is. The title track Ravishing Grimness is ok, but the rest of the tracks gives us nothing. They suck, and it appears that The Claws Of Time was the last Darkthrone had to offer in the most evil decade of all time. We guess it was true that they only made this record to satisfy their record company's demand for new material. May the true black metal spirit never be forgotten.
Should we set our hopes up for a tour by Darkthrone in 2000 ? Let's not, they propably won't tour nothing but the forests of Norway, and we'll only get so disappointed if they don't. And what are the odds?. Not high since they haven't been giving concerts since 1996 and they got pissed with the audience 'cause Darkthrone thought they weren't moving as much around as they would like them to have been. Nocturno Culto though is heard to have said, that he has forgiven the audience. Thank you, thank you. We're are so greatful. Now talk Fenriz into the unholy path of forgiveness too. Mother North staff will most certainly be there, if Darkthrone should wake from the dead, and we promise that our heads will not stand still one single moment during the whole concert.
Preparing For War, Peaceville, 2000. Rating: 90
This is a compilation by Peaceville and contains material from all the Peaceville albums plus some songs from the demos and some unreleased
versions and one unreleased track.
Eon/Thulcandra live in Oslo, Norway 1989. This song we've seen before on the bootleg from the concert in Esbjerg, Denmark 1990 and on the
Thulcandra demo from 1988.
Soria Moria which also is a liverecording from that same concert just mentioned is a previously unreleased track in the same style as the later demotapes, if it
is possible to speak of demotapes as being from a later period of time, as demos are usually from the early stages in a band's career, but you know what we mean.
Neptune Towers from Soulside Journey is put here in a live version with a small introduction by Nocturno Culto saying something about Darkthrone's
gratitude towards the spectators, the gratitude though seems to somehow disappear around 1996... Nothing is said about this track or what concert it is from. Whether this is a
Peaceville secret, or if they've simply forgotten to mention this song, remains at this time unresolved. This (deliberate) error also seems to occur with the last song
on the album Iconoclasm Sweeps Cappadocia, which is one of many great
tracks on Soulside Journey, as it is also not mentioned apart from on the tracklist. It is present here
in some sort of a demoversion, so we guess it's probably from the cult Isengard/Darkthrone promotape with the Cromlech demo + this one as a bonus track.
Enough said. This could be the end of Darkthrone. We'll just wait and see.
Apparently Preparing For War was not the end of Darkthrone. A new release is scheduled to be hitting the stores in september 2001. The title has not yet been released, but Fenriz said that the style will be something like on Under A Funeral Moon!!!!. This is great news. The revival of the gods of black metal is upon us. Watch out for this one...Which is now out, and is called Plaque Wielder. Review will be up, when we've made up our minds about this one.