Darkthrone, the Norwegian Black Metal legends, marks its 2019 return with a sublime slab of relentless riffing in the true spirit of the underground.

Over the course of 30 years, Darkthrone has become a staple of the global Black Metal genre, forging a legacy as one of the most influential bands in its illustrious and often infamous history.

Old Star displays a mastery of the art of the riff, with its 6 epic tracks taking in the best of the old school of Heavy and Extreme Metal combined with a large dose of Doom channelled through the grime of the underground.

Norway's Aura Noir was formed in 1993 by Aggressor and Apollyon in pursuit of a more thrash-based form of black metal than much of what was coming out at the time - particularly in their homeland - citing bands such as Slayer, Sodom and Kreator as inspirations along with purveyors of the scene such as Venom, for a dirtier, stripped down, violent black/thrash metal sound.
'Black Thrash Attack' was Aura Noir's debut full length album, originally recorded & released in 1996, and was a continuation of the intense thrash riffing displayed on 'Dreams Like Deserts'.
This edition of 'Black Thrash Attack' has been newly re-mastered by the band in Oslo, and also includes an exclusive cover of the venom classic 'Heavens on Fire', from the cult 'Black Metal' album.

'Epicus Doomicus Metallicus' is a true classic.
Every track is undeniably strong - heavy metal riffs blended with almost neo-classical touches, plus some theatrical elements bringing to mind bands like Mercyful Fate (thought to be another influence).
This is one of the definitive Doom Metal releases, immortalising the band, alongside early developers of the style such as the US band, Pentagram.
'Epicus' was recorded at Thunderload Studios in 1986 and was released later that same year.
The vocals for this, their debut album, were handled by Johan Längqvist, before the iconic vocalist Messiah Marcolin became a solid fixture in the band until the early nineties.

Gothic, from 1991, was the genre-defining second album by Gothic Doom Metal progenitors, Paradise Lost.
Creating a more melancholy and sonically detailed form of Doom Metal, Paradise Lost offered distinctive lead guitar melodies and atmospheric arrangements that - along with fellow travellers Anathema and My Dying Bride - placed them at the forefront of the 1990s extreme Metal scene.
This edition of Gothic is available on 180gm black vinyl.

Darkthrone hail from Norway and for the past decade have been at the forefront of the infamous Black Metal movement - quite an achievement for a band who have only ever played a handful of live shows.
In 1986 they rose up from the darkness, brought to life by Gylve Nagell (drummer), Ted Skjellum (guitars/vocals), Ivar Enger (guitars) and Dag Nilsen (bass).
Under this line up the band released 3 demos, Land Of Frost, Thulcandra and Cromlech before signing to Peaceville Records in a 4-album deal.
Darkthrone's debut album 'Soulside Journey' (1991) was recorded at the much acclaimed Sunlight Studios in Sweden, and shows a major band at the beginning of a justly celebrated career of evil.

A Blaze In The Northern Sky, Darkthrone's second album, was originally issued in 1992 and was without question the blueprint release for the Black Metal scene.

An album that defined the now ubiquitous phrase 'True Norwegian Black Metal', it was hailed on release as an album of true scene shifting greatness.

The album saw a whole new blacker than black Darkthrone, new names, new sound and highly visual black and white artwork.
Fenriz claimed 'This is the new Darkthrone, the old Darkthrone is dead'.

Simply one of the greatest Black Metal Albums of all time.

Panzerfaust, Darkthrone's fifth album was originally released in 1995 on the Norwegian label, Moonfog (the label previously owned by Satyr of Satyricon).
The album was recorded similarly to their previous release, Transilvanian Hunger, in that it was written and recorded solely by Fenriz at his home Necrohell studio, with Nocturno Culto later adding vocals.
Panzerfaust was largely inspired by the works of Celtic Frost, a long time favourite of the Darkthrone guys, and also includes a couple of fast songs in the Bathory style, a follow-on to the faster tempo of the tracks featured on Transilvanian Hunger.

With its feast of Frost-fuelled riffing, Panzerfaust is rightly hailed one of THE classic Darkthrone black metal albums. It also features lyrics written by Varg Vikernes of Burzum.

The Too Old Too Cold EP had its original release at the dawn of 2006 and acted as a precursor to the band's triumphant Peaceville comeback album, the revelatory black and roll release, The Cult is Alive.
As a showcase for this sleek new incarnation of Darkthrone, and with the band firmly back in control of their sound courtesy of their new Necrohell 2 Studio set-up, Too Old Too Cold showed that the band was here to stay, and lead the way.

Commenting back then, Fenriz defined the shift in style as "probably something like MOTORHEAD meeting HELLHAMMER on a CRUST PUNK/NECROTHRASH gig in '85".

After their early foray into the world consciousness with SOULSIDE JOURNEY they delivered the unholy trinity of A BLAZE IN THE NORTHERN SKY, UNDER A FUNERAL MOON and TRANSILVANIAN HUNGER.
Censorship and heavy handed political correctness forced the band from Peaceville and they made a succession of albums for the fledgling Moonfog label.
Something was always missing from this equation though, and soon the band members yearned to go home and made it clear. 
However, time heals all wounds, and as soon as the band became free they planned their return to the forefront of the Metal existence with Peaceville.
THE CULT IS ALIVE is the fetid, rotting, rocking first fruits of Darkthrone's second coming at Peaceville.

Writing began on 'FOAD' straight after the completion of last year's acclaimed 'The Cult is Alive'.
Recorded, mixed & all self-produced once again at the band's own Necrohell 2 studios throughout the first half of 2007, this labour of love (or is it hate') travels deep into the open seas of a rich musical heritage; a celebration of rock and metal; moving further from the pure primitive black metal they were once known for, but still embracing the roots of what made this tree grow so far and wide.
Yet still, Darkthrone only exist according to their OWN rules. Summarised perfectly by Fenriz, FOAD 'SOUNDS LIKE A WAR BETWEEN ATLANTIS AND THE REST OF PLANET!'. 

Darkthrone hail from Norway and for the past decade have been at the forefront of the infamous Black Metal movement - quite an achievement for a band who have only ever played a handful of live shows.
In 1986 they rose up from the darkness, brought to life by Gylve Nagell (drummer), Ted Skjellum (guitars/vocals), Ivar Enger (guitars) and Dag Nilsen (bass).
Under this line up the band released 3 demos, Land Of Frost, Thulcandra and Cromlech before signing to Peaceville Records in a 4-album deal.
Darkthrone's debut album 'Soulside Journey' (1991) was recorded at the much acclaimed Sunlight Studios in Sweden, and shows a major band at the beginning of a justly celebrated career of evil.