Darkthrone

Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band from Kolbotn, Akershus. Formed in 1986 as a death metal band named Black Death,^[1][2] in 1991, Darkthrone transitioned to a black metal style influenced by Bathory^[3] and Celtic Frost^[3] 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	Black metal heavy metal doom metal speed metal death metal (early)
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Peaceville Moonfog
Members	Fenriz Nocturno Culto
Past members	Ivar Enger Dag Nilsen Anders Risberget

In 1991, the band released their debut studio album, Soulside Journey, their only death metal release before transitioning to black metal. 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".^[4][5] These albums are regarded as the epitome of the band's career and among the most influential black metal releases.

Darkthrone has been a duo consisting of Fenriz and Nocturno Culto since guitarist Zephyrous departed the band in 1993. While they have aimed to remain outside the mainstream music scene, in recent years they collaborated with the National Library of Norway for exhibitions focused on Norwegian cultural history and black metal.^[6][7] Since 2006, Darkthrone's music has diverged from traditional black metal, incorporating classic heavy metal, punk, and speed metal,^[8] while their more recent albums have also incorporated elements of doom metal.

History

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 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, replacing Risberget. 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 independent record label Peaceville Records. In 1990, they recorded their debut studio album, Soulside Journey. Due to a limited budget, the band was unable to secure the studio they wanted. However, thanks to support from members of 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

The Darkthrone logo, as it has appeared on the band's releases since its first album, Soulside Journey. It was designed by Tassilo Förg, Gylve "Fenriz" Nagell, and Tomas Lindberg of Grotesque/At the Gates.

In 1991, influenced by Euronymous of Mayhem, Darkthrone adopted the aesthetic that would come to symbolize the black metal scene, donning corpse paint and using 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, 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.^[9] 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 black metal and is considered a landmark in the development of the genre. This album was the last collaboration with guitarist Zephyrous.

Following this, their fourth album, Transilvanian Hunger, was released in February 1994. It was 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 operated as a duo. Transilvanian Hunger was characterized by a raw, low-fidelity recording style, monotone riffing, and minimal melody. The album's release sparked some controversy, as Norwegian black metal musician Varg Vikernes wrote half the lyrics 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 label, Moonfog Productions, for their subsequent releases. It was run by Satyr of Satyricon.

Their fifth album, Panzerfaust, was released in 1995. Its production resembled that of Transilvanian Hunger, with Fenriz credited for all instrumentation and songwriting, while Nocturno Culto contributed solely vocals. Vikernes wrote the lyrics for "Quintessence". 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, 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, which he co-founded in 1988 before leaving in 1990 to focus on Darkthrone.

On 6 April 1996, Easter Eve, Darkthrone played their last show at "A Night of Unholy Black Metal"^[10] in a sold-out Rockefeller in Oslo.

In 1999, Darkthrone released the album Ravishing Grimness, followed by 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.^[11]

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 released 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, 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, but the entry was withdrawn at the band's request. Their subsequent releases exhibited 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.^[12] For the first time in their career, the band produced a music video for the EP's title track.^[13] Too Old, Too Cold marked Darkthrone's first record to chart, reaching the top 15 of the best-selling singles in Norway and Denmark.^[14][15] 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.^[16]

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, 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 included 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–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.^[17] This album marked a complete departure from black metal and blackened crust, returning to classic heavy metal and speed metal. The band released their 16th studio album, Arctic Thunder, on 14 October 2016. This album represented another musical shift, featuring a rawer, more blackened sound reminiscent of their 1990s output, but with the classic metal influences of the previous record.^[18][19]

On 22 October 2016, the band announced via Facebook that they would release a compilation album entitled The Wind of 666 Black Hearts. Released on 25 November 2016, the album comprised rehearsals recorded in 1991 and 1992 for songs that later appeared on A Blaze in the Northern Sky and Under a Funeral Moon.^[20]

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 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.^[21] In April 2021, a box set containing early and rare material titled Shadows of Iconoclasm was unveiled.^[22] The band's eighteenth studio album, Eternal Hails......, was released on 25 June 2021, through Peaceville Records on physical media and digital platforms. The album continued the band's incorporation of traditional doom metal, heavily influenced by Candlemass, alongside inspiration from other bands such as Trouble and Black Sabbath.^[23][24] The band's nineteenth album, Astral Fortress, was released on 28 October 2022.^[25] The band's twentieth album, It Beckons Us All......., was released on 26 April 2024. It was recorded in April and May 2023 at Chaka Khan Studio in Oslo.^[26]

Band members

Current

• Fenriz (Gylve Fenris Nagell) – drums, guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals (1986–present)
• Nocturno Culto (Ted Skjellum) – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards (1988–present)

Former

• Zephyrous (Ivar Enger) – guitars (1986–1993)
• Anders Risberget – guitars (1986–1988)
• Dag Nilsen – bass (1988–1991)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Title	Peak positions								Notes
		NOR	SWE	FIN	GER	SUI	BE (WA)	UK (Rock & Metal)[27]	UK (Independent)[27]
1991	Soulside Journey									The band's only death metal studio album.
1992	A Blaze in the Northern Sky									Recorded in August 1991[28] 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.[29]
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							43
2013	The Underground Resistance	23	50	35				14	29
2016	Arctic Thunder[18][19]			40	56			9	22
2019	Old Star							2	10	Represented a shift in style, with a fusion of traditional doom metal and the 'blackened heavy metal' sound the band cultivated throughout the mid-late 2010s.
2021	Eternal Hails......	31[30]		9[31]			160[32]	6	11
2022	Astral Fortress		56[33]	21[34]	23[35]	51[35]		6	15
2024	It Beckons Us All......[26]			47[36]				4	10

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 to 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 – remastered 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^[37]
• 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