Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band formed 1986 in Kolbotn, Norway. Originally called Black Death, the founding lineup Fenriz (drums, vocals), Zephyrous (guitar) and Anders Risberget (guitar) changed their name to Darkthrone and were joined by Dag Nilsen (bass) and Nocturno Culto (vocals, guitar). Their main inspirations were Venom, Celtic Frost, Slayer and Cyyptic Slaughter. In 1991 the band embraced a black metal style influenced by Bathory and Celtic Frost and became one of the leading bands in the Norwegian black metal scene. The band has released 18 studio albums. Between 1992-95 they hit a creative high and released four excellent albums back-to-back, these were A Blaze in the Northern Sky, Under a Funeral Moon, Transilvanian Hunger and Panzerfaust. One glowing review in RYM describes how Darkthone's 1992 classic A Blaze in the Northern Sky epitomized the Norwegian Black Metal sound: "Darkthrone surprised everyone by unleashing the coldest, most evil sounding black metal the world had ever heard. All the ingredients were there right from the start.. "The rawest of productions that remarkably still managed to be completely listenable, and added to the atmosphere and depth ten fold. Blasphemous lyrics spat out in the most venomous and demonic of styles. Freezing cold riffs that somehow sounded epic and majestic while attempting to rip your face off. This is true black metal and Darkthrone nailed it on their first attempt!" The band continues to operate with the core members Fenriz and Nocturno Culto. Fenriz and Nocturno have refused to play live since the 1990s. In 2004, they turned down a nomination for a Norwegian Alarm Award for their album Sardonic Wrath. Fenriz said, "we have no interest in being part of the glitter and showbiz side of the music industry". Fenriz (alongside Varg Vikernes) is the principal focus of the 2008 black metal documentary film Until The Light Takes Us. The heavy metal magazine Iron Fist noted he has a reputation as a "walking metal encyclopedia". He is a part-time music journalist and hosts a monthly online radio show on NTS called "Radio Fenriz." He has also appeared on a Norwegian television show about hiking in forests. Nocturno Culto, who also works in Norway as a school teacher, is also the vocalist of the band Sarke, and has a solo project called Gift of Gods. He has also released a documentary film called The Misanthrope in which he deals with black metal music and life in Norway. Artist Website: peaceville.com/bands/darkthrone Featured Albums: Darkthrone Related Artists: Enslaved, Satyricon
