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Darkthrone
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Line Up:
Nocturno Culto: Vocals, Guitars, Bass
Fenriz: Drums, Lyrics
In 1986 Darkthrone rose up from the darkness, It was brought to life by Gylve Nagell (drummer), Ted Skjellum (guitars/vocals), Ivar Enger (guitars) and Dag Nilsen (bass). under this line up the band released 3 demos (Land Of Frost, Thulcandra and Cromlech) before being signed to Peaceville Records, a British Label. And In 1991 The debut cd of Darkthone was released under the name "Soulside Journey" This album was a great Death Metal cd which contained all the songs from the cromlech demo and some songs from other demos too. It was recorded in sunlight studios in sweden.
Later on that year after releasing Soulside Journey the band got to know Euronymous, who was a main figure in the growing black metal scene, he apparently impressed the members off Darkthrone and they changed their sound as they agreed with Euronymous that the Death Metal scene had become to trendy. The bass player didnt like it and he left the band after doing the Bass for the upcoming release. The remaining three members changed their names to Fenriz, Nocturno Culto and Zephyrous. And with this they released "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" on Peaceville records still in 1991. The cd saw a whole new darkthrone, and Fenriz has said that this is the new darkthrone, and that the darkthrone from 1986-1991 was now dead, and reborn. A Blaze In The Northern Sky was an example of what was to come in the modern black metal scene. In other words, this was the trendsetter.
For the next year or two the black metal scene in Norway grew and there was alot of controversy surrounding such subjects as the black circle etc, but after these ongoings in 1993 Darkthrone emerged again with a new album "Under a Funeral Moon" which was labelled by the band as True Norwegian Black Metal, apparently because they had not a single death metal riff to be found in the music or something like that.The album was recorded with low sound quality and had nocturno culto playing the bass guitar this time. The cd is simply another Black metal masterpiece which stunned the metal scene.
In 1994 The world was introduced to one of Ferniz's side project entitled Isengard. it was released on Deaf Records, which is a branch of Peaceville. The cd released was entitled "Vinterskugge" and is made up of three demos "Spectres over Gorgoroth" which was originally released in 1989, "Horizons" which was originally released in 1991 and "Vandreren" which was originally released in 1993. This side project was a mix of doom/rock/black/death/folk music.
In 1994 Transilvanian Hunger was released and had the last 4 of the 8 songs written by Varg Vikerness, who Darkthrone probably got to know through Euronymous. This release had the lowest sound quality heard to date and was the most harsh thing heard till now. also on this cd at the end of the song 'As Flittermice As Satans Spys' the phrase "In the name of God, let the churches burn" is played backwards. This just shows some of the hate contained in the Darkthrone cds, and shows how this album is burning with Satanic power. The CD also had a phrase on the back "Norsk Arisk Black Metal" which the band claims ment True Norwegian black metal, this phrase caused alot of controversy and Fenriz made this statement "We wish to state that 'Transilvanian Hunger' is beyond criticism, and any man who attempts to do so should be thoroughly patronised for his obviously jewish behaviour." This caused even more controversy especially when Fenriz wanted to put the phrase on the sleave and Peaceville refused to release it. But apparently to say something is Jewish in Norway means That something is idiotic. It was after this that Darkthrone started to write their music in Norwegian and said they only wanted to work with Norwegians. so they Left Peaceville and joined the label run by Satyr - Moonfog.
Fenriz Released another solo project in 1994 under the name of Neptune Towers on Moonfog records, the album was made up of two songs and was entitled "Caravans To Empire Algol". Neptune Towers is described by fenriz as deep space avante guard astral synth. In the book for Panzerfaust fenriz thanks bands of this genre and the main purpose of the music is to feel like you've left the earth.
If There Are Any mistakes with this, or you have any info on the concepts of this project, plz email me.
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In 1995 the album Panzerfaust was released on Moonfog and this cd returned to the roots of black metal stuff, it was all as before heavily influenced by celtic frost n hellhammer etc. one of the songs had lyrics by varg again. and towards the end of this cd Zephyrous disappeared from the scene, no one knows where to or what has happened to him, all we know is that he is still alive and was present at the last darkthrone gig in 1996 from a fenriz statement.
I Have been recently told that At The current moment Zephyrous is a homeless bum wondering the streets of Oslo and begging for money, which is why Fenriz doesnt want to give out any more info on Zephyrous's where abouts.
In 1995 Fenriz also released a second Isengard album which was released on Moonfog and half the songs were in norsk and were dedicated to Satyr, while the other half were black metal songs which were dedicated to Frost and Satyr, both the Satyricon members. probably as a gesture of thanks for signing the band? who knows. The title of this cd is "Hostmorke".
This year, 1995, the second Neptune Towers album also saw the light of day released by moonfog under the title "Transmissions From Empire Algol" this was another 2song cd. No info on this. if you have any plz email me. Rumor has it that a third album "Space Lab" was also recorded but never released as Fenriz didnt agree with Satyr's opinion of the cd, word has it that Satyr wanted to release it and attract more attention to the label from other bands to which Fenriz was unhappy and he withdrew the release.
1995 Was a busy year for Fenriz, to top off all the projects he had worked on in this year he also worked alongside Satyr and Kari Rueslåten (ex 3rd and the mortal) in a band which was dedicated to writing music in honour of their home country Norway. But afterwards Fenriz has been reported to show disappointment in this release and vowed never to record this kind of music again. It has been brought to my attention recently that Fenriz actually said that he didnt want to record more of this as he felt it would be disrespecting to Norwegian Lore and Tradition, during a norwegian radio interview. but who knows. Black metal people are known to changeb their minds a lot.
"If anyone expressed regrets, it might have been Rueslåtten, in regard to some, well, stuff Fenriz and mate Satyr put in "Kan du se ham. åååh kan du se ham... kan du se den kristne kjøtern... hent øksa og hugg ham ned !" (can you see him... can you see him... can you see that Chrisitan scum... get the axe, chop hom down!) - Hailz to Shiriken for this info!
In the year 1996 Darkthrone released an album under the name Total Death which had no lyrics written by Fenriz, the lyrics were instead written by people such as Ihsahn and Satyr etc. in other words other big names in the Norsk black metal scene. The music sounded like the first two black metal cds Darkthrone had released. and due to this is one of the favourites amongst people with good taste in music.
This Year a new Band hit the scene under the name of Dødheimsgard, their debut album was entitled Kronet Til Konge, Their bass player was none other then Darkthrone's Fenriz, but Fenriz left the band after this recording without any explanations, when he or the band have been asked why he left they never gave any answers, and the band Dødheimsgard have even shown disapproval towards this question on their official page... Apparently the way fenriz left the band is he was speaking to aldrahn and said that he didnt want to play bass anymore and than it was made apparent that a new bass player had been found anyway.
While Fenriz was playing bass for Dødheimsgard Nocturno Culto went ahead and played guitars for Satyricon's album Nemesis Devina which was released in 1996 as well. He used the nickname Kveldulv in this band. and he played live with Satyricon as well.
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Later on in 1996 Goatlord was released which was originally recorded in 1991 during the transition Darkthrone made from their Death metal days to the black metal sound. it was originally recorded without vocals bt vocals were recorded and mixed in in 1994. This album was just another great release by the band. Most of the lyrics on this cd were taken from the Under A Funeral moon release, and the album even has Fenriz singing in a strange voice described sometimes as "singing like a little girl" others think it might have been a woman, but i believe it is Fenriz singing. Also guest vocals were done by Satyr on this release.
In 1997 Nocturno Culto left the blackmetal scene which ment that Fenriz was the only person left in the band. and a Dark Veil Fell over Fenriz as he disappeared into the night....
It was decided A Tribute to DarkThrone would be released in 1998, The format how ever had to be chosen... Fenriz wanted to do a poster or But Satyr and Nocturno Culto suggested the tribute album so Fenriz left it to them. So it was decided a tribute album would be released to Darkthrone. Nocturno Culto and Satyr chose the 8 bands which appeared on this tribute apparently from a list of bands which have been heavily influenced by Darkthrone. The bands then in turn chose a song each and when off to make their own versions of these tracks. This tribute saw the light of da in 1998. The title of the tribute is Dakthrone Holy Darkthrone - 8 Norwegian Bands Paying Tribute.
In Middle 1999 word arose that Darkthrone were back, and the Scene rejoiced, confused, not knowing what to expect, they were hungry for more, and in October 1999 Ravishing Grimness was finally unleashed to the Hordes, and did not fail to please. with the album being compared to Transilvanian hunger and A Blaze in the Northern Sky, Darkthrone was clearly back and proved they are a force which should NEVER be under estimated.
Now this doesnt mean that Ravishing Grimness was overly successful or it was the most favourite album for fans, but it wasnt a horrible piece of shit such as the rest of the albums which are spewed out by Norwegian "black metal" bands
most of the music on Ravishing Grimness was written by Nocturno Culto, this was because Fenriz has said he doesn't want to write any music any more.
Fan Website: http://darkthrone.christcrusher.com/
- July 9, 2001
Blackwinged
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