Darkthrone Biography
In 1986, Norwegians Gylve Nagell, Ted Skjellum, Ivar Enger, and Dag Nilsen formed the band Black Death. Just prior to their first release, Soulside Journey, the band changed its name to Darkthrone. With guidance from their friend Euronymus, of the famed Mayhem, Darkthrone decided it was time for a new, darker image. Like their black metal cohorts they covered their faces in corpse paint and changed their names to represent the evilness of their music. Nagell became Fenriz, Skjellum became Nocturno Culto, and Enger adopted the name Zephyrous. Nilsen left the band but not until after recording the bass parts for their third album, Ablaze in the Northern Sky. Ablaze established Darkthrone as a genre originator along with other Scandinavian black metal bands such as Mayhem, Emperor, and Satyricon. Their next two albums, Under a Funeral Moon and Transylvanian Hunger, also make most lists of must-haves in the genre. Darkthrone is known for creating albums that sound raw and dirty. Even when modern equipment and recording budgets available to them have allowed for better production they go to great lengths to make their records sound as if they were recorded in a garage. In 1994, Darkthrone switched from the Peacville label to local Norwegian label Moonfog, owned by Satyr of Satyricon, and released what they have called the ultimate tribute to Celtic Frost, Panzerfaust. After the recording of Panzerfaust, Zephyrous, as the rumor goes, went missing never to be seen again. The follow-up to Panzerfaust, Total Death, was recorded only by Fenriz and Nocturnal Culto. The two later brought out some old sessions, added vocals, and released Goat Lord. In 1998, Darkthrone released Ravishing Grimness, continuing in the vein of old school thrash/black metal. ~ Kevin Odle, All Music Guide
Popular Biographies:
Westbam Biography: The leader of Germany's house and techno scene since his beginning early in the 1980s, Westbam recorded several house/rave crossover hits during the late '80s and early '90s but is renowned for his...
Swollen members Biography: The meeting of two West Coast rappers fuelled this talented Canadian band. In 1996, Mad Child was a solo artist performing in San Francisco when he returned to his hometown of Vancouver. There...
Foreigner Biography: While quite a few arena rock acts of the '70s found the transformation into the '80s quite difficult, several acts continued to flourish and enjoyed some of their biggest commercial success: Journey,...
Sola Biography: Sola established itself throughout the Philadelphia area as a live band and then expanded its reputation natinoally when Obey Your Brain released the instrumental post-rock band's debut album, The...
Lucyfire Biography: Lucyfire is the side project of Johann Edlund. Edlund is best known as lead singer of the goth metal band Tiamet. He put together Lucyfire to express himself in different ways than that band allows....
Thin lizzy Biography: Despite a huge hit single in the mid-'70s ("The Boys Are Back in Town") and becoming a popular act with hard rock/heavy metal fans, Thin Lizzy are still, in the pantheon of '70s rock bands,...
Nemesis Biography: An anomaly in its time, Nemesis stood out in the late '80s/early '90s as a Texas-based rap group with big label connections during a time when nearly all rap came from either Los Angeles or New York....
Baccara Biography: Spanish Flamenco artists, Mayte Mateus and Maria Mediolo were already performing together in 1977 for tourists when they were snapped up by RCA exec Leon Deane. Now named Baccara, the duo were...