Negative-Existence - DARKTHRONE "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" CD

DARKTHRONE "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" CD
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~~$15.00~~ $14.00

DARKTHRONE "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" CD

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Artist: DARKTHRONE

Title: A Blaze In The Northern Sky

Format: Super Jewel CD

Country: Norway

Genre: Black Metal

Record Label: Peaceville Records

Reissue of this very influential, groundbreaking black metal opus. Comes in a super jewel case and features an enhanced multimedia section.

Tracklisting:

1. Kathaarian Life Code 10:39
2. In The Shadow of the Horns 07:02
3. Paragon Belial 05:25
4. Where Cold Winds Blow 07:26
5. A Blaze in the Northern Sky 04:58
6. The Pagan Winter 06:35
Total playing time 42:05

Plus:
Darkthrone: The Interview - Chapter 2 (An exclusive multimedia enhanced interview with the band)

Sounds:

Review:

Written by Tea_and_Crumpets [Metal Archives]
This album has been revered as one of the strongest and most influential black metal albums of all times. I personally feel it has never been surpassed it terms of pure malice, atmosphere and fantastic song writing in the black metal genre; it is truly Darkthrone at their best, their Magnum Opus if you will.

Having previously played death metal, this album sees a major shift for the band into what at the time had been an explosion of Norwegian black metal. Darkthrone decided to ditch their roots and death metal stance and ride the wave of underground ‘kvltness’ by choosing to embracing black metal.

The album starts with the song ‘Kathaarian Life Code’, which serves as a prime example for the bands work, as well as having a remarkable intro. The song starts out with a low drone, and while this may not sound impressive huge cracking bass drum beats soon come down like thunder and a slow and ominous Gregorian chant starts in the background "Anaretus, Dominus". The atmosphere created by this has to be heard to be truly understood, words do not do this justice. Soon after Nocturno’s tortured vocals come in over this in something of a spoken word form with large pauses and gulps between words. They are spat out with incredible hate, slowly getting louder, as the drone in the background builds. It sounds like he’s being strangled to death, the other instruments dropping out as the drone gets louder, perhaps to symbolise his life ending. I am almost certain it is meant to be him dying, and never in music has this been made so believable.

With his last words uttered, a demonic laugh is cackled and the song blows into full force. The guitars sound like chainsaws, extremely distorted and fuzzy just as you’d expect. The drums are also present, a blistering wall of sound, massive bass drums cracks with clattering cymbals. As for the vocals, I will have to say that they will strike fear into those unfamiliar with metal as they are the most tortured and demonic sound to be heard in music, Nocturnal’s vocals are unparalleled and his raspy growl is not only perfect for the album but still remains the best black metal vocals I’ve ever to hear.

The song literally explodes into your face before slowing down a bit, with some nice clear riffs and a good mix of blast beats and some more simplistic thumping drums to accompany them. Darkthrone are always certain to change rifts often enough throughout the songs as so they don’t become repetitive and monotonous, one of largest complaints of black metal. The riffs also serve to be rather more complex and intricate compared to the simplistic likes of Burzum etc, who try and create the same atmosphere by having a simplistic riff constantly repeated. I much prefer Darkthrones style, which is while being minimalist in a black metal fashion is in fact, far less so than many other bands in the genre.

The rest of the album follows in a similar style to the first song. The album has a good mix of slower and faster songs, most of songs themselves having both slower and faster parts. The song writing stands outs as being some of Darkthrones best, with some of their most recognisable music on this album.

The production and mixing is also perfect. Unlike on many black metal albums the drums, guitars and vocals can all be heard very clearly, but bleed into each other through the heavy distortion used to create a ‘wall of sound’. No one part is too low in the mix, although perhaps the vocals are a bit too prominent for my liking. Darkthrone again seem to be the perfect judge between, rawness and over production, many bands either becoming almost un-listenable or too clean with their production efforts.

Overall this album seems faultless, even today I am always elated when I return to listen to it. This album defined a genre, and does not only deserve its status as a classic black metal album, but also as one of the genres greatest works even today. The music eclipses most modern black metal releases and all the inevitable Darkthrone clones that have emerged due to the bands success. This is ‘A true taste of evil", this is the epitome of black metal.

This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 18 January, 2012.

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