Darkthrone
Nocturno Culto and Fenriz (2005)
Background information
Origin	Kolbotn, Norway
Genre(s)	Black metal Crust punk (recent) Death metal (early)
Years active	1988–present
Label(s)	Peaceville, Moonfog
Website	www.darkthrone.no
Members
Nocturno Culto Fenriz
Former members
Ivar Enger Dag Nilsen Anders Risberget

Darkthrone is an influential Norwegian black metal band. Nocturno Culto (born Ted Skjellum in 1972 is a Norwegian musician best known as the Vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist Fenriz (born Leif Nagell on November 28, 1971 and later known as Gylve Fenris Nagell) is best known as the drummer and lyricist of the two-piece Kolbotn is the centre of Oppegård, Norway. The population is about 6000 Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, Crust punk (sometimes simply crust) is one of the evolutions of Anarcho-punk and Hardcore punk, mixed with distorted Extreme metal guitar Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs fast tempos heavily distorted guitars deep growling vocals morbid lyrics In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Peaceville Records is a British independent metal -oriented record label Moonfog Productions is a Norwegian -based Record label founded by Satyricon vocalist/guitarist/bassist/keyboardist Satyr and Tormod Opedal Nocturno Culto (born Ted Skjellum in 1972 is a Norwegian musician best known as the Vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist Fenriz (born Leif Nagell on November 28, 1971 and later known as Gylve Fenris Nagell) is best known as the drummer and lyricist of the two-piece Ivar Enger, better known by his stage name "Zephyrous" was perhaps best known as legendary Black metal band Darkthrone 's once- Guitarist. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, They formed in 1988 as a death metal group, but after embracing the black metal style in 1991, they became a driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs fast tempos heavily distorted guitars deep growling vocals morbid lyrics Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, For most of this period Darkthrone has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto and Fenriz. Nocturno Culto (born Ted Skjellum in 1972 is a Norwegian musician best known as the Vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist Fenriz (born Leif Nagell on November 28, 1971 and later known as Gylve Fenris Nagell) is best known as the drummer and lyricist of the two-piece They claim to be influenced by punk and have sought to remain outside the music mainstream. ^[1] Recently their music has incorporated more crust punk traits. Crust punk (sometimes simply crust) is one of the evolutions of Anarcho-punk and Hardcore punk, mixed with distorted Extreme metal guitar

History

Death metal years

The band that would become Darkthrone formed during 1986 in Kolbotn, a small suburb of Oslo. Kolbotn is the centre of Oppegård, Norway. The population is about 6000 (called Christiania from 1624 to 1878 and Kristiania from 1878 to 1924 is the Capital and largest city of Norway. They were a death metal group by the name of Black Death, and its members were Gylve Nagell, Ivar Enger and Anders Risberget. Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs fast tempos heavily distorted guitars deep growling vocals morbid lyrics In 1988 the band changed their name to Darkthrone and were joined by Ted Skjellum and Dag Nilsen. During 1988 and 1989 the band independently released four demo tapes: Land of Frost, A New Dimension, Thulcandra, and Cromlech.

They were subsequently signed to the independent record label Peaceville Records with a four album contract. Peaceville Records is a British independent metal -oriented record label In 1990 they recorded their first studio album, Soulside Journey. Soulside Journey is the debut album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. The album was cleanly-produced in a technical death metal style, although there were some elements of black metal present, in terms of the album's music and imagery.

Immediately following the release of this album, the band continued writing and recording new material. These demos were entirely instrumental but they demonstrated the band's gradual shift towards black metal. In 1997 they would be released on a compilation album entitled Goatlord. Goatlord is a compilation of demos by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone.

Early black metal years

The Darkthrone logo, as it has appeared on the band's releases since its first album, Soulside Journey. Soulside Journey is the debut album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone.

During 1991, Darkthrone adopted the aesthetic style that would come to represent the black metal scene, wearing corpsepaint and working under pseudonyms. Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, Corpse paint (sometimes spelled corpsepaint) is a style of black-and-white or just white Makeup used extensively by Black metal bands during live A pseudonym is a fictitious alternative to a person's legal name (see Alias) Gylve Nagell became "Fenriz", Ted Skjellum became "Nocturno Culto" and Ivar Enger became "Zephyrous". Fenriz (born Leif Nagell on November 28, 1971 and later known as Gylve Fenris Nagell) is best known as the drummer and lyricist of the two-piece Nocturno Culto (born Ted Skjellum in 1972 is a Norwegian musician best known as the Vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist Ivar Enger, better known by his stage name "Zephyrous" was perhaps best known as legendary Black metal band Darkthrone 's once- Guitarist. They began recording their second album, which was released at the beginning of 1992 and entitled A Blaze in the Northern Sky. A Blaze in the Northern Sky is the second album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. The album contained Darkthrone's first black metal recordings, and Peaceville Records was originally skeptical about releasing it due to Darkthrone's extreme diversion from their original death metal style. ^[2]After the album was recorded, bassist Dag Nilsen left the band, and is not credited anywhere on the album.

The band's third album, Under a Funeral Moon, was released in 1993. Under a Funeral Moon is the third album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. It marked Darkthrone's total conversion to the black metal style, and is considered a landmark for the development of the genre as a whole. This album also marked the last album on which guitarist Zephyrous would perform.

It was followed by their fourth album, Transilvanian Hunger, which was released in 1994. Transilvanian Hunger is the fourth album by Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. This was Darkthrone's first album to be recorded with just two members, Nocturno Culto and Fenriz. The band would remain a duo from this point onwards. Transilvanian Hunger was characterised by a very "raw" or "low fidelity" recording style and musical simplicity. "Lo-fi" redirects here For the music genre see Lo-fi music Lo-fidelity redirects here The album's release caused some controversy: some of its lyrics were written by the infamous Norwegian black metal musician Varg Vikernes, and its booklet contained anti-Jewish phrases. Transilvanian Hunger is the fourth album by Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. Varg Vikernes (varg 'vikeɳes born Kristian Vikernes on February 11 1973 near Bergen, Norway) is a Black metal musician convicted murderer Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut

With Moonfog Records

Darkthrone moved to another independent record label, Moonfog Productions, for subsequent releases. Moonfog Productions is a Norwegian -based Record label founded by Satyricon vocalist/guitarist/bassist/keyboardist Satyr and Tormod Opedal The label was ran by Satyr of the black metal band Satyricon. Satyr (born Sigurd Wongraven on November 28, 1975) is the vocalist lead and rhythm guitarist bassist and keyboardist for the Norwegian Satyricon is a Norwegian Black metal band formerly known as Eczema

Their fifth album, Panzerfaust, was released in 1995. Panzerfaust is the fifth album by Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. The album was received well, although its production, which is similar to that of Transilvanian Hunger, encountered some criticisms. Their sixth album, Total Death, was released during 1996 and is notable for featuring lyrics written by four other black metal musicians. Total Death is the sixth album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone.

During the year 1995, drummer Fenriz was involved with numerous side projects. This included his solo ambient project Neptune Towers, recording an album with Satyr as the duo Storm, and drumming on Dødheimsgard's debut album. Ambient music is a Musical genre in which sound is more important than notes Neptune Towers is an ambient side-project formed in 1993 by Fenriz of Darkthrone. Storm was a Norwegian Folk metal band that originally included Fenriz of Darkthrone and Satyr of Satyricon. Dødheimsgard (now known as DHG) was originally a Norwegian Black metal band formed in 1994 but 1999's 666 International saw

In 1999, Darkthrone released the album Ravishing Grimness, which featured "cleaner" prodcution and a clear influence from the early work of Celtic Frost. Ravishing Grimness is the seventh studio album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. Celtic Frost were an influential heavy metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. This style would continue on their following album, Plaguewielder, which was released two years later in 2001. Plaguewielder is the eighth album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. Its prodcution style was "rawer", or as the band described it, more "necro". ^[3]

In the last years of the decade, two Darkthrone tribute albums were released: Darkthrone Holy Darkthrone in 1998 and The Next Thousand Years Are Ours in 1999. A Tribute album to the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone, with contributions from other leading Norwegian Black metal bands The band also released Preparing For War, a compilation of songs from 1988-1994. In 2002 their song "Kathaarian Life Code" appeared in the last scene of the film Demonlover. Demonlover is a 2002 film by French writer/director Olivier Assayas.

In 2003 the band released the album Hate Them. Hate Them is the ninth album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. Although this record and their next contain electronic introductions, they remain true to Darkthrone's early black metal style. Electronic music is music that employs Electronic musical instruments and Electronic Music technology in its production Sardonic Wrath was released in 2004. Sardonic Wrath is the tenth album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. It was the band's last album with Moonfog Productions and their last to be recorded solely in the black metal style. Their next releases would feature strong crust punk traits. Crust punk (sometimes simply crust) is one of the evolutions of Anarcho-punk and Hardcore punk, mixed with distorted Extreme metal guitar

Change in direction

In 2005, Darkthrone confirmed that they had returned to Peaceville Records, after leaving the record label in 1994. They had also started up their own record label, Tyrant Syndicate Productions, to release their future albums. To celebrate their return, Peaceville re-issued the Preparing For War compilation with a bonus CD of demos and a DVD of live performances. Darkthrone's first four albums were also re-released with video interviews about each of them.

Darkthrone released their eleventh album, The Cult Is Alive, during early 2006. The Cult Is Alive is the eleventh album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. The album represents a great shift in the band's style, as the music incorporates more punk and crust punk traits than previous recordings. Crust punk (sometimes simply crust) is one of the evolutions of Anarcho-punk and Hardcore punk, mixed with distorted Extreme metal guitar While Darkthrone's black metal roots are still evident, their shift from the genre's typical sound is much more noticeable. The Cult Is Alive was the first Darkthrone album to appear on the album chart in Norway, debuting at number 11. ^[4]

In July 2007 the band released the EP NWOBHM (an acronym for New Wave of Black Heavy Metal) as a preview for their next album. NWOBHM is an EP from the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone and released during summer 2007 as a "small taster" In September that year, Darkthrone released the album F.O.A.D. (an acroym for Fuck Off And Die). FOAD (an acronym for Fuck Off And Die) is the thirteenth album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. The title is apparently a tribute to the Danish band Desexult. The music continues the more punk-oriented style that was introduced on Darkthrone's previous album, and features some parts that are similar to traditional heavy metal.

Also during 2007, Nocturno Culto completed and released The Misanthrope, a film about black metal and life in Norway. Nocturno Culto (born Ted Skjellum in 1972 is a Norwegian musician best known as the Vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist It includes some of his own solo recordings. Recently, he has announced that the recordings for Darkthone's next album will be completed by July 2008:

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations and tribute albums

• 1998 – Darkthrone Holy Darkthrone – tribute album featuring eight Norwegian bands. A Tribute album to the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone, with contributions from other leading Norwegian Black metal 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 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. Frostland Tapes is a compilation album by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone.

EPs

• 2005 – Under Beskyttelse av Morke (Under Cover of Darkness) – released exclusively in Japan, contains rehearsal songs from the recording of the album Under a Funeral Moon. Includes alternate versions of the songs:
  • "Unholy Black Metal"
  • "Under a Funeral Moon"
  • "Crossing the Triangle of Flames"

• 2006 – Too Old, Too Cold – released as a "taster" for the album The Cult Is Alive, includes the songs:
  • "Too Old, Too Cold" from the album The Cult Is Alive.
  • "High On Cold War" featuring Grutle of Enslaved as guest vocalst. Enslaved is a progressive Black metal band formed in 1991 in Haugesund, Norway, and currently based out of Bergen
  • "Love In A Void" a cover of the Siouxsie & The Banshees song. Siouxsie & the Banshees were a British rock band which formed in 1976
  • "Graveyard Slut" an alternate version of the song.

• 2007 – NWOBHM – released as a "taster" for the album F. NWOBHM is an EP from the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone and released during summer 2007 as a "small taster" O. A. D. , includes the songs:
  • "Wisdom of the Dead" an alternate version of the song.
  • "Canadian Metal" an alternate version of the song.
  • "Hedninger Fra Helvete" (Heathens From Hell).
  • "Bad Attitude" a cover of The Testors song.

Demos

• 1988 – Land of Frost
• 1988 – A New Dimension
• 1989 – Thulcandra
• 1989 – Cromlech
• 1991 – Goatlord (first released in 1997)

Band members

Current members

• Nocturno Culto (Ted Skjellum) – lead guitar, bass guitar, vocals, lyrics (since 1988)
• Fenriz (Gylve Nagell) – drums, occasionally – rhythm guitar, bass, vocals, lyrics (since 1988)

Former members

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

Related artists

• Satyricon – Nocturno Culto and Fenriz have recorded and performed with the band. Goatlord is a compilation of demos by the Norwegian Black metal band Darkthrone. Nocturno Culto (born Ted Skjellum in 1972 is a Norwegian musician best known as the Vocalist, lead guitarist and partial bassist An electric guitar is a type of Guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current which is made louder The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the The lead vocalist (or lead singer) is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song Fenriz (born Leif Nagell on November 28, 1971 and later known as Gylve Fenris Nagell) is best known as the drummer and lyricist of the two-piece A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells Ivar Enger, better known by his stage name "Zephyrous" was perhaps best known as legendary Black metal band Darkthrone 's once- Guitarist. Satyricon is a Norwegian Black metal band formerly known as Eczema
• Aura Noir – Fenriz has recorded vocals with the band. Aura Noir is a Black metal / Thrash metal band from Oslo, Norway.
• Isengard – solo project of Fenriz, 1989-1995. Isengard is a solo project of Fenriz, famous for being the Drummer of Darkthrone, created around 1988-1989
• Neptune Towers – solo project of Fenriz, 1993-1995. Neptune Towers is an ambient side-project formed in 1993 by Fenriz of Darkthrone.
• Dødheimsgard – Fenriz, 1995. Dødheimsgard (now known as DHG) was originally a Norwegian Black metal band formed in 1994 but 1999's 666 International saw
• Storm – Fenriz, 1995. Storm was a Norwegian Folk metal band that originally included Fenriz of Darkthrone and Satyr of Satyricon.
• Valhall – Fenriz, 1987-1989. Valhall is a Norwegian Doom metal band It is somewhat noted for having briefly had Fenriz (of Darkthrone) as a member ( 1987 -

References

External links

• Official website
• Darkthrone at MySpace
• Darkthrone on All Music Guide
• Darkthrone on Encyclopedia Metallum
• Darkthrone on Rockdetector
• Darkthrone biography on Peaceville Records
• Darkthrone interview with Metalfan