Darkthrone

Darkthrone is a highly influential Norwegian black metal band.

Statistics

• Genre: Black metal, death metal
• Country: Norway
• Status: Active
• Time: 1986-

Biography

Darkthrone began its existence as a technical, jazz-influenced death metal outfit under the name of Black Death. They released several demos in this style, 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. Soon afterward, primarily due to the influence of Euronymous of the band Mayhem, the members Darkthrone decided that the death metal idiom was no longer relevant. The band adopted the aesthetic style which would come to represent the black metal scene, using corpsepaint and working under demonic and fantasy-inspired pseudonyms. At this point, Dag Nilsen left the band, as he did not appreciate the black metal aesthetic which the group had adopted – Nocturno Culto took over bass duties. Darkthrone subsequently recorded and released the album A Blaze in the Northern Sky. Although strongly inspired by the works of Bathory and Celtic Frost, this album achieved a unique sound by bringing punk-like simplicity and chaos to metal. This album caused a frenzy among underground metal fans, and it even caused Peaceville to consider the possibilty of dropping the band.

With the their following album, Under A Funeral Moon, the band delved even deeper into the black metal sound. In retrospect, this album is considered a landmark for the genre as a whole. It was followed by their quintessential masterpiece, Transilvanian Hunger, which is generally regarded as their finest work. All of these early black metal albums explored the themes of a corrosive sound, extremely low fidelity recording quality, and musical simplicity and minimalism. Darkthrone to this day remain a powerful force in the black metal genre, though they have experimented with their influences throughout time.

Discography

File:Darkt transiv.jpg

Cover of "Transilvanian Hunger"

Studio releases

• Soulside Journey - (1990)
• A Blaze In The Northern Sky - (1991)
• Under A Funeral Moon - (1993)
• Transilvanian Hunger - (1994)
• Panzerfaust - (1995)
• Total Death - (1996)
• Goatlord - (1996)
• Ravishing Grimness - (1999)
• Plaguewielder - (2001)
• Hate Them - (2003)
• Sardonic Wrath - (2004)

Demos and bootlegs

• Land Of Frost [Demo] - (1988)
• A New Dimension [Promo] - (1988)
• Thulcandra [Demo] - (1989)
• Cromlech [Demo] - (1989)

Band members

Current members

• Nocturno Culto (Ted Skjellum) - Vocals, Guitar - (1986-)
  • Also involved in Satyricon.
• Fenriz (Gylve Nagell) - Drums - (1986-)
  • Also involved in Dødheimsgard, Isengard, and Neptune Towers.

Former members

• Zephyrous (Ivar Enger) - Guitar - (1986-1995)
• Dag Nilssen - Bass - (1986-1991)

External links

• Darkthrone Official Homepage
• Darkthrone Lyrics
• Darkthrone Music Reviews (American Nihilist Underground Society)

See also

Dark Throne is an online MMORPG; see Dark Throne.