Thorns - Stigma Diabolicum (2007)

“Stigma Diabolicum” (2007) by Thorns on Kyrck Productions the 2015 reissue on a grey/black swirl vinyl limited to 150 copies. Comes with a poster and on the vinyl insert there’s a collage interviews from all sorts of magazines & fanzines Slayer Mag being one I recognize. 

I got to mention the Greek label Kyrck Productions they rereleased many rare/limited recordings on vinyl & CD of bands like Ved Buens Ende; Strid; Ulver; In The Woods; Manes; Arcturus etc. If you like your Black Metal on physical media and don’t want to pay a fortune they are essential for anyone that want for instance “Those Who Caress The Pale” on vinyl or this Thorns compilation. 

It was first released in 2007 and has all 6 songs from the legendary instrumental “Grymyrk”(1991) demo recorded with just guitar and bass. 2 songs of the “Trøndertun”(1992) demo that never was released just spread among people within the scene it has one of Thorns best songs ever Æerie Descent. Also 3 songs from when the band was called Stigma Diabolicum (1989-90) 1 song from the “Luna De Nocturnus”(1989) demo and 2 rehearsal songs. 

Snorre Ruch have made one of the best albums of this century with “Thorns”(2001) he is also considered together with Euronymous to have invented the typical Norwegian Black Metal guitar riff according to Fenriz. Watch the extra material in the 2-disc DVD documentary “Until The Light Takes Us”(2009) that version of the DVD is only available in region 1&4 so make sure your player can play that. Some other prominent figures in the scene like Bård “Faust” Eithun & Marius Vold were both once members of Thorns and Stigma Diabolicum. Snorre stoped working on Thorns when he joined Mayhem as Blackthorn on guitar. We all know the rest... 

This compilation is essential if you’re interested in the early Norwegian scene. Snorre is a musical mastermind and I hope he makes new Thorns album.  

Since I posted this on Instagram there's some reliable sources saying that the new Thorns record has already been recorded but the vocals & lyrics are still being worked on and that the record could be released early next year. I can't confirm this but I hope it's true only a new Funeral Mist or Isengard album could make me more happy. Because the wait for the follow-up to "Thorns" has been 17 years now...