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:
Panzerfaust (1995)
A Blaze In The Northern Sky (1992)
Under A Funeral Moon (1993)
Transilvanian Hunger (1994)
Total Death (1996)
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.
So last year on my Instagram account I started a new "tradition". Since I'm an old school kind of guy it was interesting to make a top list of the best releases of 1997 which was a brilliant year. Especially in Black Metal the scene.
Also the fact I didn't make a list in 2017 because it wasn't a strong year for Black or Death Metal. Sure there were a couple of amazing and even excellent records but not enough for me to do a list of 9-12 albums.
As a comparison I can say that 2018 is actually even better then 1998 that's hard to imagine but it's true at least in my book.
Many of the photos on each individual release have already been published and I'm too lazy to take new ones so some are quite crappy with my old iPhone 6S camera (a newer is on the way).
There are some rules though. No live, compilation, re-recorded, demo reissues or any other releases with very old material.
It's always hard to number albums in a particular order. But I would probably rank them as following and it's not life of death. Anyway let's move on with my favorites of 1998!
Funeral Mist - Devilry
Their debut was release on a 5 song MCD in 1998. The 12" LP was released in 1999 limited to 300 copies and has the bonus song Hellspell 2. Included both my versions that were released by the legendary Shadow Records.
Nifelheim - Devil's Force
The follow-up to their awesome debut Nifelheim (1995) is almost as amazing that one was. Can't say enough good things about this record. Here on my vinyl reissue by Regain Records from 2010.
Abigor - Supreme Immortal Art
Masterpiece! I never get tired of listening to this album and this isn't even my favorite Abigor album. It reminds me of Emperor at times actually prefer this over their IX Equilibrium (1999) record.
Dawn - Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy)
Probably my favorite Dawn release of all time and that says a lot because their debut and the following EP were excellent. On a red 2 x LP vinyl reissue on Century Media from 2017 limited to 100 copies.
Marduk - Nightwing
My 2nd least favorite Marduk studio album but in Marduk terms that still means it's fucking amazing. On some Osmose Productions LP 2016 reissue. Should have the 1st print release in my Marduk collection and one day I will own it.
Arckanum - Kampen
It might be the weakest of all their 3 albums that were released on Necropolis Records in the 90's. But this 2-CD release has lots of great songs on it and a classic. Should really get a reissue LP of this one some day because Necropolis never made one.
Dødheimsgard - Satanic Art
This was released as a great 5-song MCD on Moonfog Productions that really holds up on its own. It's amazing an teaser for their epic 666 International (1999) album. It was finally released on vinyl in 2018 by Peaceville.
Gehenna - Adimiron Black
Really wished I owned a copy of the Moonfog LP of this very impressive album. Strangely it has never been reissued on vinyl. I do like the previous releases First Spell (1994), Seen Through The Veils Of Darkness (1995) and Malice (1996) more but those are hard to compete with and Gehenna doesn't sound anything like those 3 on Adimiron Black.
Sorhin - Döden MCMXCVIII
Sorhin has always been a personal favorite band from my country of Sweden. Only 3 songs but that’s all what it takes from this amazing Black Metal band. Limited and hand numbered CD release.
Angelcorpse - Exterminate
Another one that I should own a LP copy of is this album. It was actually 1 of 2 albums brought me back to the Death Metal scene in 1999 after being totally lost in Black Metal land for years. Even if Angelcorpse play a very Blackened Death Metal this is a very special record for me. Have to do a post about Exterminate and that other important album one day.
Otyg - Älvefärd
Listen so much too this CD in 1998-99 that I almost got burnt out on it. Lots of nostalgia but still a amazing album especially now in the cold Swedish winter time.
Vintersorg - Till Fjälls
As a huge fan of Otyg at the time I of course had to get this Vintersorg album on CD and it didn't disappoint. Here on the digipack CD version not sure if this or the standard jewel case release was released at different times.
Notably more Swedish releases (8) then Norwegian (2) among these ones. I probably fucked up some release date or forgot someone (probably Napalm or Necropolis...).
Some of these bands were considered for the 12 best releases Death, Cannibal Corpse, Gorgoroth, Limbonic Art, Ulver, Dark Funeral, Trelldom,Enslaved etc. So they weren't forgotten Death were closest I do like The Sound Of Perseverance but it's the record I listened least to in their discography.
And that was 1998 see you in a year for 1999 traditions are to be repeated.
Have to say that 2018 has been the best year in the Black & Death Metal genres since the glory days of the 90's. I'm a 38 year old Swedish guy that have been listening to extreme Metal music since 1991 and bought my first Death Metal CD in the summer of 1992. The amazing Left Hand Path (1990) by Entombed so I've experienced many years within Thrash/Death but especially Black Metal.
During the years 2000-2017 there's been MANY brilliant albums released. But I cannot remember a year with such an incredible amount of amazing releases since like I said the glorious 90's. 2009 had many brilliant albums by Funeral Mist, Wardruna, Marduk, Unanimated, Arckanum etc.
If there's an official YouTube video I've included one, non-official ones absolutely not. Anyway enough babbling about the past, videos and on with the 2018 list.
1. Funeral Mist - Hekatomb
The biggest shock of the year was when Daniel "Arioch/Mortuus" Rostén announced (or rather the NoEvDia Bandcamp) that a new Funeral Mist album called Hekatomb was being released. Remember it was on a Saturday, on June the 9th around 12:00 (if I remember correctly) that I got the e-mail and it was going to be released just 6 days later.
My reaction was out of this world because it had been so many years since the last one and I thought Arioch was contented with Marduk being his only creative outlet. I'm really glad that wasn't the case. If I made a list of best album from 2010-2018 Hekatomb would probably top that list. It's such a beast of an album.
I know this has been written before but if I had to pick out a favorite band it would be Funeral Mist. Was it a new Salvation (2003) or my favorite release of theirs Maranatha (2009)? No but definitely a 10 out of 10 record. Pure perfection in every millisecond.
This album will probably not be on many lists this year or be as high as on my. But I've been a huge fan of everything Einar Selvik have been apart of especially since the release of the first Wardruna album. I also prefer Hugsjá over Ivar Bjørnson & Einar Selvik's debut release Skuggsjá - A Piece For Mind And Mirror (2016) and that's a masterful record.
Don't know how accurate the list that Spotify has put together over my most played songs of 2018. Yes I use Spotify at my work do to its accessibility and because I can't bring my LP's or CD's to work. According to that the song Hugsjá was my most played one, could see that because it's excellent. Do like the Wiegedood & Drudkh albums but got to question that list sure I listened too them a couple of times but not to the extent it suggests...
Let's move on. Written this so many times but this album gives me the same feeling as the Storm, Isengard and Wongraven albums that meant so much for me in the 90's. Even if they musically don't sound anything like those bands Hugsjá is in the same spirit. A natural continuation of those glory days of my life, musically.
I've been a huge fan of Marduk since 1994 and this Norrköping Black Metal War Machine are still kings of the scene. They never disappoint and Viktoria felt like a fresh album in their deep vast discography. Their 3rd shortest album but what they packed within those 33 min few other bands could only dream of releasing.
Very impressing that Arioch/Mortuus is on two of the top-3 albums. But I'm not surprised by that if you read my posts and have seen my collection you should know that I'm a huge fan of both Funeral Mist and Marduk.
The first album that Wardruna / Einar Selvik did since the Runaljod Trilogy was completed is very different from what they released thus far. Selvik says it best in the booklet:
"Skald was recorded live in the studio with the intention of capturing the uncompromising energy of a a live performance rather then aiming for a flawless and polished expression. It sets out to give voice to the ancient craft that once lay at the heart of the Norse oral traditions, presented as it takes shape in the hands of a humble contemporary skald today”
I couldn't describe it the album better myself. If you didn't know Einar Selvik is one of the people in the scene I admire most for their musical capability. The only other living people I think as high of are Fenriz and Arioch/Mortuus
Hate to use the term "all-star band" but this Norwegian combo was joined by a legend in the scene for Blant Svarte Graner Bård "Faust" Eithun everyone should know his contribution to the scene. Even if I prefer the previous album Norske Ritualer (2016) just a tiny bit more, they're almost as equal as equal can get. But I still don't think that Djevel has reached their peak yet.
Djevel feels stronger and better. They should be one of the biggest bands in the entire Black Metal scene nowadays in my opinion. The fact Djevel doesn't play live that often I think is a huge reason for that because all possibilities are there for them being at the top.
Their music has a 90's Norwegian Black Metal feeling to it without it being like they're trying to do what's already been recorded before. I cannot recommend Blant Svarte Graner enough probably the most underrated album on this entire list.
Admittedly I haven't listened that long to Behemoth really. Wasn't until I bought their masterpiece of an album The Satanist (2014) that I got into them. Even if this isn't as good as that one it's still damn close! It wasn't an easy task to follow-up such an album.
There's been mixed opinions even among the diehard Behemoth fans about this record. As usually I don't care about what people think of music that I enjoy. But I'm still a bit pissed off about the 56% score over at Metal Archives.
I Loved You At Your Darkest is amazing throughout and one can hear that the band really focused on every little small detail. Nothing is left for coincidence. Pure brilliancy!
Astonishing! One quarter of a century Summoning have been a band. They have released 8 albums with this one included plus the two EP's I think that they are all amazing releases. The 2 previous albums before saw a little decline in terms of quality, still great records that I enjoy very much though. But with this one With Doom We Come they released their best album in 17 years. Since Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame (2001) and that's very impressive.
Like I wrote in my post about With Doom We Come it's not like Silenius and Protector invented the wheel or progressed musically for that matter. They just wrote the best songs they could and the result was astonishingly great.
It's the return of darkness and evil! Finally they're back on track Unanimated have always been one of the best Swedish bands of all time in my opinion. It was well worth the wait I can easily say now. When a record deal for 3 albums with Century Media can't think of another band more deserving of that then Unanimated.
Even if I called this "the best albums" I still wanted to include the EP. If it had more then 4 songs I'm certain that it would have landed on an even higher place. But the competition is murder this year.
They got a great sound with Fredrik Folkare in the Chrome Studio. All 4 songs on this EP showed that the upcoming album will become something really special mark my words. I cannot wait for it to finally be released.
After a amazing debut Craft released the 2 brilliant albums Terror Propaganda (2002) and Fuck The Universe (2005). Then came the rather boring Void (2011) but 7 years later this amazing album was released. I never could've imagined that Craft would on my top-9 albums of 2018 before I heard the album. They definitely proved me wrong.
Maybe one of the most underrated album in the entire year. It's going to be interesting to see if any others include this on their lists. I usually never care for what people say about albums. Sure opinions by friends, some journalists and a couple of people on Instagram I really respect their point of view.
Anyway Craft really did a good job this year and deserved a place on this list.
Was very skeptic to this album when it was announced in 2015 didn't think I would like or buy it. Also a Immortal lineup without Abbath? I wasn't concerned by Demonaz guitar skills but Abbath was such a charismatic frontman (sure some might not enjoy his antics).
But Holy Blashyrkh what a album they released! The Abbath band feels like they play in a much lower division then Immortal.
If they ever rejoin with him or not I really don't care for anymore. Demonaz and Horgh showed that they are fine without him. Released the best Immortal album since At The Heart Of Winter (1999) in my opinion. Really enjoyed Demonaz as vocalist but will they take this out on the road so one can experience this amazing Immortal? I really hope so.
In 2019 Necrophobic will be 30 years old but these guys is far from finished. Mark Of The Necrogram shows that they're still hungry. Amazing sound, cover art and those songs.
The album was released as early as February and I still think that the album grows on me with each listening and there's been plenty of hours. Can't tell you enough how much this has been played while I'm at work. It's been a "go to record" whenever I couldn't decide which one to play.
An old favorite band of mine still shows that they are a force to be recon with even if their previous albums also was great. I would say this is their best album since the Channeling The Quintessence Of Satan that was released in 1999. Silenius (vocals) have just like Arioch/Mortuus been included on two albums on this list.
There's too MANY honorable mentions! But none mentioned none forgotten! However...
I just ordered the new Voodus album Into The Wild that was recently released on LP by Shadow Records. So haven't heard that one enough to include it among the top-12. Might just have to update this post once I have listened too it a couple of times. Because what I heard so far sounds fucking amazing.
There's 2 other bands I'm probably am going to buy albums of that could potentially chance the list even more. But we'll see...
Anyway remember this isn't about life and death. Could've done a longer list but a top-12 list looks best symmetrically over at my Instagram @herr_perdition page.
Also to place them all in a order that I'm satisfied with was already tough enough already. Some choices could probably change depending on mood of the day.
I wrote this list about a month ago and still feel confident with my list for the best albums of 2018. Ask me in a year and we'll see if it's still the same?
Some might see this as too many personal preferences because of how high I regard Funeral Mist, Marduk and Wardruna / Einar Selvik. But they were the best 4 albums of the year according to me despite the killer competition. That was 2018 summarized a vast improvement from 2017. Will 2019 be as good as this year? Who knows but it would take a lot of brilliant albums released with such high standard that this year set. All except for Unanimated I don't think any of the other bands have a new record in store.
Anyway thanks for your visit and time. Although there's not often comments on my posts here like on my Instagram page, please feel free to leave a comment with your best of 2018 list.
Hammerheart the limited edition gatefold first print vinyl on Noise International. Not often that I find such gems as this one in my own midsized Swedish hometown (approx 100 000).
Twilight Of The Gods vinyl is a 2003 reissue on Black Mark Production.
Been listening too Bathory extensively for quite some time so I thought of doing a 2 part series of their viking albums. This is part I or II:
Hammerheart &Twilight Of The Gods were the 5th & 6th Bathory albums. Hammerheart being the first release in their "viking era". Sure there were hints of it with songs like Odens Ride Over Nordland;A Fine Day To Die and also the title trackfrom their previous Blood Fire Death (1988) record.
Other bands had released viking themed songs long before. But here Bathory go all into full Viking Metal mode and the Hammerheart album was the first of its kind.
Believe I bought both these albums on CD back in 1996 it could maybe even been in 1997 at the same time. Because the Jubileum I & II compilations had many of the best songs and being 16 years old one had to prioritize albums to buy. Hammerheart didn't quite blow me away like the albums Blood Fire Death; Under The Sign Of The Black Mark; The Return and the debut Bathory had done. I appreciated the songs that appeared on the compilations especially Shores In Flames and Song To Hall Up High.
But it didn't take long before I realized just how excellent the album really is. It starts perfectly with the already mentioned Shores In Flames and it's 11 min of pure amazing Scandinavian Viking/Black Metal at its finest. Then another excellent song Valhalla also a long one 9,5 min.
Already 2 songs into Hammerheart one can hear especially where especially the early Viking/Pagan Metal bands from the Norwegian Black Metal scene found their inspiration. Bathory were truly the godfathers of the Scandinavian scene.
Baptised In Fire And Ice and Father To Son are both amazing songs and just like almost all the other songs on the album quite long but feels way shorter. Actually the shortest song on the album is the 2,5 min long Song To Hall Up High.
I'm not sure when Home Of The Once Brave was written. But it sounds more like something like a less refined song from the follow-up Twilight Of The Gods rather then a Hammerheart song. Still one of my favorites on the record though.
Now for a long and maybe controversial topic. I really like One Rode To Asa Bay but I got to be in the right mood to fully appreciate it. Still one of their most overrated songs in my opinion. It wouldn't be my choice to make a promo video for that one from Hammerheart. The video they did was really impressive and spectacular though.
Don't know but I have this love/hate relation to One Rode To Asa Bay. Love and hate are very strong words that I wouldn't use for it but those describes my feelings for the song best.
The 10,5 min feels very long sometimes when I listen to it. Also I wouldn't have it as late on the record either. That's my opinion on One Rode To Asa Bay let's move on.
Altogether Hammerheart is an amazing album and my 2nd favorite of the viking records and that's definitely a great rating for it. The highs might be a little better on Hammerheart but I think that Twilight Of The Gods is a much more even record and the best one of all the viking albums Bathory did.
Starting with the 14 min title track Prologue - Twilight of the Gods - Epilogue the sound and production is more refined on this album and it already shows in the opening song. Even if it's a great opener I can hear why it was the ending song of the compilation Jubileum II.
Also I think that Quorthon's vocals has evolved so much for the better on Twilight Of The Gods. Through Blood By Thunder is another song that appeared on one of the Jubileum albums and is a personal favorite on the album. The 10,5 min Blood And Iron is another one that I really enjoy.
I know that it sounds like I'm repeating myself I'll try and mix it up the text a bit. Under The Runes is a top-3 song on this album amazing guitars on that one. To Enter Your Mountain begins with this Folk music feeling to it and guess what? I think it's a great song even if I know some don't like that particular one.
Bond Of Blood has a very interesting story behind it. That one was recorded as In Nomine Satanas in 1987 and that version wasn't released until Jubileum Volume III (1998). The lyrics are of course way different from each other. Both versions are great but I do prefer Bond Of Blood slightly more maybe because I heard it for so long before on Jubileum II in 1995. It's in my- top 3 songs on this record.
The song Hammerheart that confusingly appears on Twilight Of The Gods does really stand out on the record because it's so different from the other material. It took me many listens before I learned to like that one but when I did it's a really great song.
That's my opinions on Hammerheart and Twilight Of The Gods two brilliant records that should belong in any serious collection. I don't know many who prefer Twilight Of The Gods over Hammerheart but if you're one of them feel free to leave me a comment.
I'll do post II about Blood On Ice (1996); Nordland I (2002) and Nordland II (2003) soon. Usually don't do the same band two times in a row so we'll what I post next.
...will probably forever always be Where No Life Dwells (1991); Shadows In The Deep (1992) and Across The Open Sea (1993). All are the original Century Media CD releases.
Would rank the albums in that order of release also. Though that wasn’t always the case. The first album by Unleashed I bought was Shadows In The Deep and it was for most of the 90’s my favorite record of theirs.
But that has changed throughout the years. It’s actually the same case as with many other bands of the early amazing Swedish Death Metal scene. Have discovered that the debut is my favorite album by lots of those bands. You can definitely hear the young musicians being so passionate with their music in this “new” Metal genre.
The debut from 1991 Where No Life Dwells is amazing throughout. So that makes it hard to pick out any favorite songs. A classic timeless one and must have Death Metal album. Should really get this one on LP even if I'm in no hurry.
Remember I made my mom drive me to a shopping center outside town in the early 90’s (probably at least 1 hour back & forth). Just so that I could buy my first Unleashed CD Shadows In The Deep.
I played that CD to death at the time. Many amazing songs like The Final Silence; The Immortals; Shadows in the Deep; Onward Into Countless Battles etc. I also really enjoyed the cover of what became and is my favorite Venom song Countess Bathory at the time. Even if the original is so much better. I think that Shadows In The Deep is a bit more uneven then the debut nowadays. Songs like A Life Beyond; Crush The Skull and Land Of Ice isn't on par with the others but all in all an amazing album.
Across The Open Sea was a bit of a letdown I thought at first. That soon changed and it was for a long time my second favorite Unleashed album. It hasn’t aged as well as the two others I think but it’s a very nostalgic record for me and I really enjoy it.
I think the sound and production isn't as good as on the two previous albums. Also some songs like I Am God; Captured and even the one they made a video for The One Insane I've never really enjoyed. There's some amazing ones though like To Asgaard We Fly; Open Wide; Execute Them All; Forever Goodbye (2045) etc. The butchering of the Judas Priest classic song Breaking The Law isn't one of them...
Was a huge fan of Unleashed in 90’s before I got lost all in Black Metal they were my 3rd favorite Swedish Death band behind Dismember and Entombed. They also made me interested in Nordic mythology, vikings and got me to wear a Thor's Hammer pendant.
Blind bought Victory (1995) at release and still to this day I cannot stand that album. I still own it and enjoy maybe 1 or 2 songs. Ever since that record all the Unleashed albums has been hit like Midvinterblot (2006) and Odalheim (2012) or miss like Warrior (1997) and As Yggdrasil Trembles (2010).
These 3 records in this post will always be the most special Unleashed albums for me.
Instead of me doing a post each time an album turns 25 years I'll do the MOST significant records in one post alone. Well I might do a separate post in December for The Somberlain because of the path that album lead me to in 1994.
There's so many albums that I will just focus on my 9 favorites. I also disqualified compilations and live records which I usually do anyway for these kind of posts. So no Live In Leipzig by Mayhem that one was also recorded in 1990 and was circled around in the scene long before its official LP release in 1993. I'll save that one for a separate post.
This isn't a list of my top-9 albums in some particular order, sure some records are better then others, but to list them all would be too much of a hassle. So in NO PARTICULAR order the best Black Metal and Death Metal albums of 1993:
Dissection - The Somberlain
Okay already breaking my word but out of these 9 it's the best album that I can say for a fact. Usually I will say that I prefer Storm of the Light's Bane (1995) but whenever I hear The Somberlain all the memories of this one comes back. It's so perfect is the only word that can describe it.
I know this album inside out, can probably hear just 2 seconds of any song at any moment and know immediately what song it is. I listened to this one so much in my young teenage room and while drinking beer with friends to this day. Also remembering having it on repeat while reading all of The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's other books.
Morbid Angel - Covenant
I love the Altars Of Madness; Blessed Are The Sick; Domination and Abominations Of Desolation records but Covenant is without any doubt my favorite Morbid Angel album. It's also my favorite Death Metal record of all time. Sure that The Somberlain had much Death Metal influences but that one I associate more with the Black Metal scene.
Anyway with Covenant I think the band made their best one all songs are amazing. The order those songs are placed on the record is also perfected from the fast opening Rapture until the end with God of Emptiness one gets onto a journey of Death Metal supreme. I could talk about every song here but I got so much more to write about.
Burzum - Det Som Engang Var
Once I fully understood this albums awesomeness it became a 10 out of 10 album. Recently did a long post about this record. This have become my go to album in the Burzum discography during the last couple of years, sure Filosofem (1996) is better, but this one is still a great genre defying record.
Marduk - Those of the Unlight
The 2nd Marduk album is also my 2nd favorite Marduk album of all time and was the 2nd Marduk release I ever bought. It's very different from the debut Dark Endless(1992) and the followup Opus Nocturne (1994). I just think that Those of the Unlight sounds like a very unique record in their vast discography. No other album sounds like it in the entire Marduk catalog, sure every record has it own sound but this one is very special.
The first Marduk longsleeve I ever bought was actually a Those of the Unlight shirt. With "Death To Peace" and "War At Last" on the sleeves, on the back the dragon that can be seen inside the original CD booklet and the text written on the last page.
Dismember - Indecent And Obscene
Not as good as the Dismember debut album Like An Everflowing Stream (1991) but still a brilliant Death Metal album. Have probably listened to this one as much as the debut. Actually put Indecent And Obscene at number 9 of my best Death Metal albums of all time and I still think it was a right decision made months ago.
The band had really progressed since the 2 years since their debut album at the time I did actually prefer Clandestine (1991) by Entombed.That's still a great a record but a couple of months after the release of Indecent And Obscene my opinion changed and Dismember became my favorite band.
Immortal - Pure Holocaust
My favorite album by Immortal. At the time and already as early as on their 2nd album it's so very amazingly refined. The sound, the structure of the songs and the lyrics are all so brilliant. If I was to introduce anyone what Black Metal is I would probably choose this one and about 3-4 more.
Not saying that Pure Holocaust is in my top-4 Black Metal albums but if I ever made such a list it would rank high.
Darkthorne - Under A Funeral Moon
Another amazing release and a timeless classic in the genre, however not my favorite Darkthrone record. Still in my top-3 of their albums though. If I remember correctly it was the fourth album by Darkthrone I bought (maybe third) sometime in the mid 90's.
I was such a big fan of everything that Fenriz was associated with back then, I still am, but back then I wanted every record he ever appeared on it was how I discovered many great albums. But about Under A Funeral Moon it is so great that I cannot even pick out any favorite songs because they are all amazing.
Emperor - Emperor EP
I was a huge fan of Emperor in the 90's (still am) but getting a hold of the Emperor/Enslaved split CD on Candlelight Records wasn't easy in the mid 90's. Believe it was during a Stockholm trip it was bought or if I mail ordered it, not certain though. All 4 songs appears on the In The Nightside Eclipse (1994) album and I had heard those to death so this was a great find when I finally got it.
Some prefer the Emperor EP versions of the songs. Myself like the album versions better might be much thanks to the nostalgia I got for In The Nightside Eclipse which were the first album from the Norwegian Black Metal scene that I ever bought. A brilliant 20 min Black Metal EP that everyone should own.
Enslaved - Hordanes Land EP
The first Enslaved album I bought was Frost (1994) actually the Emperor/Enslaved split CD was bought much thanks to Emperor. But to get the Hordanes Land EP was a great bonus and it was played as much as the Emperor EP. One definitely gets one's money's worth with that split release just Hordanes Land alone is almost 31 min long.
I can never figure out which one is my favorite Enslaved release sometimes it's Frost (1994) then again Vikingligr Veldi (1994) is also amazing and whenever I listen too Eld (1997) I'm reminded how awesome that one is. Maybe Hordanes Land is my favorite after all?
There are MANY honorable mentions!! However non mentioned non forgotten. Could've done a part II or my 20 favorites and I'm already breaking my promise... Both Unanimated and Carcass were almost included. But for Instagram posts the symmetry is better with 9 where I usually post all the stuff you see here. Many of the albums I didn't buy on CD back in 1993 because I was more into the Death and Thrash Metal scene at the time.
Dismember, Morbid Angel, Slayer, Entombed, Kreator and Unleashed were probably my favorite bands at the time many of these was released. But all that changed when I found out about Dissection and the masterful The Somberlain (yeah I know Metal of Death). It was thanks too that I started getting an interest for the Scandinavian Black Metal scene.
Anyway that was my favorite 9 releases of 1993. It's most for fun I do these posts and opinions can always change, but did list about a month ago and I still stand behind the choices I made.
Once upon a Fenriz in the mid 90’s he was the guy in all those great bands (you all know which ones). The sole reason for me getting the Dødheimsgard debut Kronet Til Konge on CD back in the day was because I wanted every CD that Fenriz was playing on. And that’s how I discovered the amazing band Dødheimsgard.
Peaceville Records released an official vinyl for the first time ever of the Dødheimsgard EP Satanic Art (1998) just 2 weeks ago. It was originally released on Moonfog Productions and because of this great occasion I thought of doing a post about Dødheimsgard.
I don't want to repeat myself about every record so I write it here. I have all the original CD's from Malicious Records and Moonfog Productions. The 4 first records are vinyl reissues on Peaceville Records.
But first one VERY important fact about the band before we start. I refuse to call Dødheimsgard something other then Dødheimsgard!! First of all it's one of the best band names from the Norwegian scene and the other one (I won't even mention it) sounds like name of a House/Trip-Hop band or some other terrible genre.
Kronet Til Konge (1995)
The debut album was released by one of my favorite record labels ever Malicious Records (Zyklon-B, Borknagar, Kampfar, Gorgoroth etc) this's a Peaceville vinyl reissue from 2015. It's my favorite Dødheimsgard record and it’s not just my 90’s nostalgia talking.
A very unique record that Fenriz, Vicotnik and Aldrahn made and I think they stood out in the scene in a good way at the time. There's only amazing songs on it and it's hard to pick out any favorite songs. If you want to know what Norwegian Black Metal is all about this is a great record to recommend to people that's interested. Enjoy this masterpiece from start to finish I can't say enough good things about it because it's flawless in my opinion.
Monumental Possession (1996)
Their last album on Malicious Records this is a Peaceville reissue from 2016. I’ll admit that the album was a bit of a letdown when I bought it on CD back in the 90’s. I didn't thinkMonumental Possession was bad, but my expectations were probably too monumental. I do know some people that think it’s the best Dødheimsgard album ever.
However this album has grown on me and I do really enjoy it nowadays. A term I usually use is "vinyl worthy" if I didn’t think it was a great record I wouldn’t have bought it on vinyl when I already have it on CD.
Actually didn't know that Fenriz was out of the band when I bought the record. Even if that wouldn't have made it better. They had recruited Apollyon (Aura Noir etc.) on guitar and Alver (ex.Emperor) on bass. Apollyon, Vicotnik and Aldrahn all shared vocals duties something I thought was a strange decision. Because Aldrahn is clearly best of the 3 even if no one of them are bad at singing. It adds to the split feeling this album have and also the Thrash elements wasn't that great in my opinion. But still I highly recommend this album.
Satanic Art (1998)
A very fitting title to this 5 song EP that was their first release on Moonfog Productions. The EP was just released on May the 18th for the first time ever on an official vinyl on Peaceville Records. With a bonus track an alternate version of the song Symptom. It was released as a teaser EP for the then upcoming full lenght album and on 5 songs it did its job and made me want to hear their next album.
On this EP Apollyon moved from guitar to drums and they replaced Alver on bass with the unknown Kai S. Halvorsen. They also recruited Svein Egil Hatlevik (Fleurety, Strid etc.) on keyboards and Galder (Old Man's Child, Dimmu Borgir) did his first and only appearance with the band on guitar. One thing I don't like are the loooong aliases the member adopted on just this EP like:
Mr. Always Safe And Sound
Mr. Dingy Sweet Talker Women Stalker
Mr. Dead Meat Smelly Feet
Mr. Fantastic Deceptionist
Mr. Nebulous Secrets
Mr. Anti Evolution Human Deviation.
Thank hell for copy and paste! This EP sounds completely different from their 2 previous releases. They got a more avantgarde and industrial Black Metal approach but I really liked it.
666 International (1999)
This was originally released on Moonfog this is another Peaceville reissue from 2012 limited to 666 copies on 2 white vinyls. I have said before that this is equally brilliant to their debut but if I had to pick a favorite I would choose Kronet Til Konge. But 666 Internationalis another very unique album byt also WAY different from the debut. The production is flawless and it sounds timeless almost 20 years after its release. On this record Aldrahn is main vocalist. They took away the silly aliases on this one. Almost... Guitarist Vicotnik call himself Fixit also keyboard player Svein Egil Hatlevik is Mr. Magic Logic. Apollyon returned to playing bass replacing Alver instead of playing drums.
Best choice was that they recruited on drums the one and only the man of many names, talents and bands Carl-Michael Eide (Aura Noir, Ved Buens Ende, Infernö, ex Satyricon, ex Ulver etc etc). Here he's known as Czral and the drums are programmed at sometimes but it doesn't matter they sound great and are very fitting to this masterpiece.
It's a cliche but I say it anyway every time I listen to 666 International I find new parts of the songs I haven't heard before. 49 min very well spent listening to this one. Some hate it some hate their image and about that they do look like retards on the pictures. But I only care about the music. I regard this one very high even in best Black Metal albums of all time it would have a place in my opinion.
Supervillain Outcast (2007)
Do I want Supervillain Outcast on vinyl? No! Well maybe for 5 euro... It’s a very average record. It's strange that in 8 years the band couldn't come out with something better. The lineup had changed completely and only guitarist Vicotnik remained. Kvohst was their new vocalist he does a good job but he ain't no Aldrahn... Someone I think is one of the best vocalists from the Norwegian scene (he does "additional vocals" on 2 songs). But the album as a whole well...
Only 3 good songs tracks, the other songs are below or average at best, weak sound, poor production, too many songs and drags it on way too long. I’m glad that I own the original Moonfog Productions CD because the Peaceville reissue is on 2 CD's and drags on for even longer with 7 bonus tracks. I have heard them and they aren't any better then the 15 songs on the original release.
A Umbra Omega (2015)
Their latest effort was an amazing record it’s how I imagined a followup to 666 Internationalshould’ve sounded like. Also amazingly Aldrahn had returned to the band in 2013. They also had a new lineup once again and only Vicotnik remained from the previous record. Actually I had given up on the band with their previous fiasco but a friend said it was great so I listened to it and ordered the double vinyl immediately.
Sadly Aldrahn quit the band just 1 year after this record was released. So on their summer tour in Europe 2016 Vicotnik had to sing and has remained their vocalist since that. I really which that the band would release more albums more frequently. It took them 8 years to make Supervillain Outcastand 8 years for A Umbra Omega to be released. With that tempo we won't get a new album until 2023... Hopefully it's not that far away, but I rather see them release a great record like this one then to haste out some sloppy mess. Of course it would be nice if Aldrahn would return once again but the future will tell.
That's my thoughts on Dødheimsgard definitely one of the better bands from Norway. I do not rank bands but if I did they would reach high in my list.
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.
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.
