A DARKTHRONE post and the new OLD STAR album

Darkthrone has announced that their new album Old Star will be release on May the 31st by Peaceville Records. I immediately pre-ordered the black LP edition as soon as the e-mail got to me.

Without any doubt Darkthrone is clearly the band after Marduk that takes up most space in my entire collection of LP's and CD's. Here in this post is my Darkthrone studio album vinyls.

Excluded all the compilation, EP and 7” releases. Some of my records are 1st prints but many reissues especially the ones that are crazy expensive nowadays.

My vinyl collection is based on having the cover artwork from the original CD/LP release. It's not that I dislike all those Peaceville LP reissues that completely alters the cover artwork. But I only want what I grew up buying even if not all covers got changed by Peaceville.

For the 2 x CD releases with audio commentary by Fenriz and/or Nocturno Culto I don't care about the artwork though.

Those CD's are definitely something any die-hard Darkthrone fan should own because they are very informative and entertaining.

There's also some minor color changes on the ones I have. Goatlord is probably the one that differ most from the original CD release on Moonfog Productions in 1996. That one has a much brighter blue color. It wasn't released officially on vinyl until 2002 though and Moonfog changed to a much darker color.

2 years ago on my Instagram account I began to rank all the Darkthrone full length albums. The task proved more daunting than expected so I only did 2 or 3 posts.

Mainly because after my top-6, that I still 100% back up, it gets too difficult. Some bands records are extremely hard to put in order from best to “worst”. Darkthrone being one of them Burzum being another example.

Anyway if someone is interested my top-6 now and then:

1. Panzerfaust (1995)
2. A Blaze In The Northern Sky (1992)
3. Under A Funeral Moon (1993)
4. Transilvanian Hunger (1994)
5. Total Death (1996)
6. Ravishing Grimness (1999)

If I had to pick a 7th one it would be divided between so many records it's not worth mentioning. However when we get closer to the release of Old Star I might go in depth with these 6.

Ever since Old Star was announced I been lost in a total Darkthrone music phase. My go to albums aren’t those 6 albums on the list except for A Blaze In The Northern Sky and Total Death. Have heard all those 6 records to death but those two I have been listening to very much lately also been into:

Plaguewielder (2001)

Nocturno Culto composed all music except for 1 song. A total gem!

Hate Them (2003)

Always liked this one so many amazing songs & riffs.

Goatlord (1996)

Hesitated to include it among their studio albums. Everyone should know the story behind the 1996 record. Still a very unique Darkthrone release.

Dark Thrones And Black Flags (2008)

This one is brilliant and one of their most underrated records.

Arctic Thunder (2016)

Such a great one I really hope they will top this with Old Star.

2 months feels very far away from now but I can’t wait to hear what Fenriz & Nocturno Culto will deliver this time.

ARCTURUS - ASPERA HIEMS SYMFONIA (1996)

On a reissue green/black vinyl by the great Kyrck Productions from 2012. It comes with a 8-page booklet, poster and is limited to 300 copies.

Have already done a post on my Instagram account @herr_perdition about 2 years ago or something like that. But this record deserves another post and I haven't written one for the blog so here we go I will write more about the band then rather the album.

The latin title of Aspera Hiems Symfonia doesn't fit for when I found it on CD in the summer of 1996 at one of my local record stores. It was actually one employee that used to tell me about new Black Metal releases that showed me the album I listened to it at the store with headphones.  

About 30 seconds into To Thou Who Dwellest In The Night I was already convinced that the digipack CD was going home with me. A format I was and am still a sucker for now and definitely back then.

Also listened to Wintry Grey over there but then I just wanted to get the damn CD home to a more fitting environment (my teenage room). The record was so amazing that Arcturus became one of my new favorite Black Metal bands in just approx 1.5 hours (bus home and a playthrough) and that still remains to this day.

Arcturus have only released brilliant records throughout their career. Well that remixed album called Disguised Masters (1999) I hated it at the time of its release but nowadays I can appreciate it more but it's mainly for collectors and die hard fans like me.

Is it perfect? Did they need gangsta rap on Master Of Disguise and all that trip-hop? Hell no! But some of those remixes are done in a good way but the originals are 1000 times better at least. The new songs the opening 49 seconds White Tie Black Noise and Deception Genesis fells like leftovers from La Masquerade Infernale (1997). The "ensemble version" of Ad Astra is a great one though and the highlight of the album.

Some say that the Sideshow Symphonies (2005) record isn't as good as the rest of their discography. I do agree but still an amazing record that I would rate a 9 out of 10 if I had to put a review number on it. 

But let's talk a bit about this LP release another Kyrck Production release a company one can or could always rely on because they haven't released anything for years. I got vinyls & CD's by Ulver, Ved Buens Ende, Strid, Manes etc. all of them are immaculate releases. Kyrck always went the extra mile to make sure to please their customers got their moneys worth.

DO NOT get the 2002 compilation with Aspera Hiems Symfonia/Constellation/My Angel release! The remastering of Aspera Hiems Symfonia sounds terrible at least the 2 x vinyl album that I own. It should be sold and not pester my Arcturus collection because it's so bad. However it does have 2 bonus songs from the Aspera Hiems Symfonia session.

This Kyrck release also got a bonus song a early 1994 rehearsal version of The Bodkin & The Quietus or as it's simply called here The Bodkin.... Would've been nice with those 2 songs from the 2002 compilation The Deep Is The Skies and Cosmojam but with or without any bonus songs this is how a proper Aspera Hiems Symfonia LP release should be.

The album was actually released on vinyl as early as 1996 but only on a picture disc LP. There's also a misprint of that release that has the same image on both sides.

I do like picture discs but try and avoid them mainly because of the many fragile prints that clearly was never meant to be played on a record player. I only want records in my collection that I will play.

Anyway cannot recommend Arcturus and this album enough!

My ISENGARD tattoo - a tribute to FENRIZ and the mid 90's NORWEGIAN BLACK METAL scene

The tattoo was done by @fifthson78 on Instagram or visit his page at www.fifthson.com thanks for the excellent work once again man and the great conversation. He also did my Wardruna bind rune tattoo.

The inspiration can be found inside the CD-booklet of the Høstmørke (1995) album that I bought the year it was released. It’s also the pendant you see Fenriz wear on the cover of the album still to this day he's wearing it on pictures and in videos I've seen.

Choose not to include the quote: "Death is certain, life is not"? It's not that I don't like the meaning of that but I don't want any quote on my arms. The symbol is the main thing in my opinion also my right arm is dedicated to Norse/Pagan tattoos and my left for more Dark/Satanic stuff.

Although I’m a huge Darkthrone fan I got all their full length studio albums both on LP and most of them also on CD.

This image symbolizes my favorite years of Fenriz music. The classic Moonfog era during the mid 90's.

The releases he did with Isengard, Darkthrone, Storm, Dødheimsgard and also the Vallhall and Neptune Towers ones were all of such class at the time of their release. They all became classic albums immediately and yes I'm aware all those weren't released on Moonfog Productions.

Because of mainly the 3 first bands I mentioned I began a hunt for finding everything Fenriz related in 1995/96 on CD. For instance that's how I stumbled across the Kronet Till Konge (1995) album and even if I don't play the two Neptune Towers albums regularly. They both have a very deep nostalgic factor for me and in the right "mind/mood" they are a great soundtrack. Even if there's admittedly both better Ambient Black Metal bands and albums.

Don’t get me wrong! I like all the albums that I own from 2000 to now that involves Fenriz. Well maybe not where he does just a guest appearance. Isengard is by far my favorite side project he's ever done and certainly one of the very best in the entire scene in the 90's. I would almost put Isengard as high up as I do Darkthrone.

Always say my favorite album is Høstmørke but my go to Isengard album is actually the debut compilation Vinterskugge (1994). It’s so diverse and during its 64.5 minutes there isn’t anything I would change.

Sure even Høstmørke shows signs of different styles with songs like Thornspawn Chalice and Total Death being straight forward Black Metal while the 5 other songs has a Folk/Pagan Metal feeling which one most associate Isengard with.

However on Vinterskugge that's categorized in 3 chapters. The first chapter Vandreren (1993) songs 1 to 7 has everything from Folk/Pagan Metal on for instance Nagelfar or Vinterskugge and many more. Also a ambient song In The Halls And Chambers Of Stardust The Crystallic Heavens Open and the primitive Black Metal on Ut I Vannets Dyp Hvor Mørket Hviler.

On chapter II songs 8 to 12 Spectres Over Gorgoroth (1989) is from the Isengard demo it has a Death Metal feeling with Doom and Black Metal influences. All are great and I'm so glad they were included and that they didn't just release the 1993 recordings.

Chapter III Horizons songs 13-16 from 1991 (some recorded later) are definitely the weirdest but so fucking brilliant. The Fog incorporates Black and Death Metal, Storm Of Evil is almost like Folk Metal with 70's rock also some Punk in that one.

Bergtrollets Gravferd a ambient song with a very ominous dark feeling. Despite its title that I associate more with the Viking/Folk it's the most Satanic sounding song on the album. I can only think of Mortiis with Vond on Selvmord (1994) that could do something as brilliant with a Ambient song to get that darkness into it. Even if I'm by far not an expert on every record out there.

Then the ending Our Lord Will Come which by far is one of the weirdest songs Fenriz ever recorded in the 90's. It's dark and weird 70's evil sounding Rock with Doom Metal and with an even a more ominous feeling then the previous one in parts.

Although amazing throughout the first 7 songs are my favorites on Vinterskugge closely followed by the 4 ending songs which are so fucking great. Like I said would not change anything on this album.

I think to everyone's surprise in 2016 Peaceville released the Traditional Doom Cult 7" vinyl with 2 songs. The Light from the autumn of 1989 and The Fright from early 1990. Both would've fitted well with the rest of the material on the Vinterskugge album.

But with 16 songs already it might been too many songs for that album. Both The Light and The Fright is in the same vein as the Our Lord Will Come song. Not as evil/ominous sounding but still great. I would be very glad if more stuff like this was released.

Do I want Fenriz to resurrect Isengard? No that ship sailed a long time ago. Around 1996-97 both Darkthrone and Fenriz music didn't have that same spirit in my opinion. Even if brilliant records like the criminally underrated Total Death (1996), Ravishing Grimness (1999), Arctic Thunder (2016) etc. was and are still being released.

Was recommended the split Engangsgrill (2009) he did with Nattefrost of Carpathian Forest etc. where the 3 first songs is called Fenriz' Red Planet would be in the same vein as Isengard. The recording dates back to 1993 but doesn't have that Isengard magic to it. The songs are basically 70's primitive Rock with Doom/Stoner influences although not bad, not amazing either but worth buying.

Vinterskugge was actually the first Norwegian Black Metal CD that I ever laid my eyes on. Remember a friend I had back then borrowed it from a friends boyfriend or something like that. He actually didn't got into the scene like me and my other friends did. You got to know this is something like 25 years ago. So my memory isn't quite clear on how or where he borrowed the CD from...

But I'm definitely 100% certain it was Vinterskugge Do believe we listened to it together and knew it was a side project but it wasn't a great start for my Black Metal journey. That would begin just a few months later with Emperor and In The Nightside Eclipse (1994) album.

By the way where do you think I got the inspiration for using Herr in front of all my names I use online? Of course its from the Nordavind (1995) album by Storm where Fenriz labels himself as Herr Nagell.

Actually I’m not one for meeting famous Black Metal artists and sure I've stumble across some during my 39 years of living. But Fenriz is one guy I would like to buy a beer/drink and just chitchat with for some hours about music. Would he enjoy that? Probably not...

Anyway I’m so satisfied with my Fenriz 90’s tribute. Don’t know what I would choose to tribute the last 19 years work by him I could definitely come up with something.

But my next tattoo project will be something Bathory related. Nothing's decided yet also which era I would choose. There are so many possibilities I could take with that also.

Thanks again to Johannes @Fifthson78 for a brilliant work and also one Herr Gylve Nagell for the inspiration.

FLEURETY - MIN TID SKAL KOMME (1995)

On a vinyl reissue from Peaceville that was just recently released. Originally released in 1995 on CD by Aesthetic Death Records and Misanthropy Records that at the time of 1995/96 released brilliant records by Burzum, Arcturus, Ved Buens Ende, In The Woods etc. just to name a few.

This is the the 2nd LP release of Min Tid Skall Komme. The first vinyl was released in 2008 that one has a bonus LP with the songs from their demo Black Snow (1993) and the 7" EP A Darker Shade Of Evil (1994) and is limited and numbered to 600 copies.

A real nice release but I really like that the Peaceville LP kept the original CD cover artwork unlike the 2008 one. There's been a bunch of different cover artworks for the reissued CD's if I'm not mistaken.

Min Tid Skal Komme was one of those records that would sit on the CD shelves in one of my local record stores for years. I had listened to it once but didn't get the greatness of this masterpiece right then and there.

With the concept of 5 songs in approx 45 min and tracks that were 12,5 min long it's kind of hard to get the right feeling in such an environment. With those bad headphones in at a commercial record store (not just for Metal) and for such a "complex avantgarde Black Metal" band as Fleurety one needs to be at a better space.

It might have been in 1996/97 I first heard/saw the Min Tid Skal Komme CD but maybe not until 1998/99 that I actually picked it up. Believe the store discounted the price to around 99 kronor which were a good price I thought.

My Black Metal taste had also evolved during those years especially with albums like the masterpiece La Masquerade Infernale (1997) by Arcturus. The brilliant Heart Of The Ages (1995) by Into The Woods... or another excellent one Written In Waters (1995) by Ved Buens Ende.

Fleurety had started playing 1991 in the small village Ytre Enebakk located southeast of Oslo.

The founding members were guitarist/bassist and also vocalist between 1991 to 94 Alexander Nordgaren (later live guitarist with Mayhem 1997-98) and drummer/keyboard player also current vocalist since 1994 Svein Egil Hatlevik (Strid ex. Dødheimsgard). Both were only 14 years at the time of 1991.

The first demo was released in 1993 had 3 songs and was called Black Snow although not a good name for any release it's not a bad demo. On that one Nordgaren called himself Varg and Hatlevik took the name Nebiros kind of funny because one doesn't exactly think of Fleurety with those names. The music goes from slow paced to straight forward Black Metal with a great instrumental song in the middle.

Already in 1994 they put out a first official EP release called A Darker Shade Of Evil. Both songs Profanations Beneath the Bleeding Stars also appeared on the debut demo. It's like the demo alright but nothing spectacular the vocals are hideous. Actually Alexander Nordgaren permanently damaged his vocal chords. I can hear why!

In 1995 the 1 song called Absence appeared on the 2 x CD  compilation Blackend: The Black Metal Compilation Volume 1 with already established bands like Emperor, Marduk, Mayhem, Satyricon, Samael etc.

Kind of funny how many bands got misspelled like Flevery but Fleurety wasn't the only ones we also got Impaled Nazarine, Unaminated and Ved Buensende.

The song Absence, the demo and the EP all appears as extra songs on the 2008 vinyl of Min Tid Skal Komme on Aesthetic Death Records. All except the demo on a Candlelight Records CD reissue from 2002.

Let's finally get into their debut album Min Tid Skal Komme. One can definitely hear that the guys had gotten inspiration from the excellent Ved Buens Ende demo from 1994 called Those Who Caress the Pale for this record. Even if their own song Absence was an indication on where they were going it's more evident on the album It's not like a copycat version of Ved Buens Ende I think Fleurety has their own sound on this record.

Also speaking of Ved Buens Ende both Carl-Michael Eide (bass) and Vicotnik (vocals) from that band (and a ton others) were recruited as live musician for Fleurety in 1994. I'm not sure how many gigs that combo played together?

I've only seen 2 songs over at YouTube where they do an alright live cover of the Mayhem classic Freezing Moon with Vicotnik on vocals. While on My Resurrection In Eternal Hate Alexander Nordgaren does the vocals.



Anyway I think that Min Tid Skal Komme was not promoted enough by Misanthropy Records I only remember ever read any interviews with Fleurety in fanzines.

Also just as many of their label mates like Ved Buens Ende and Into The Woods... ahead of their time. The music although rightly labeled Black Metal it got all sorts of influences but just saying it's avantgarde isn't enough. They use an additional female vocalist on the album which adds lots to the songs.

Can only say that you got to pick up a copy for yourself of this gem of an album.

What became of Fleurety after this one I'm not going to ever write about but lets just say it wasn't and isn't my cup of tea.