Darkthrone

A massively-influential Norwegian metal band, Darkthrone pioneered black metal in its infancy as a genre. They continue to have a consistent output of metal genre-crossing albums.

The band was formed in late 1986 in Kolbotn, a small town south of Oslo, Norway. Darkthrone started as a death metal band under the name of Black Death whose members were Gylve Nagell, Ivar Enger, and Anders Risberget. In late 1987, Black Death changed their name to Darkthrone and were joined by Dag Nilsen. In the spring of 1988, Ted Skjellum joined the band. During the late eighties, the band released four demo tapes.

After signing to the independent record label Peaceville Records, Darkthrone released their debut and only death metal album, Soulside Journey in 1990. The band continued writing and recording new material. The new tracks were instrumental. But the band gradually changed their style to black metal. The finished album Goatlord was released in 1996, with vocals added by Nagell.

In 1991, Darkthrone adopted its new black metal style under the influence of Euronymous of Mayhem. Wearing corpse paint and working under pseudonyms, Gylve Nagell became “Fenriz”, Ted Skjellum became “Nocturno Culto” and Ivar Enger became “Zephyrous”. In 1992, the band released their second studio album A Blaze in the Northern Sky. Dag Nilsen was the only member who didn’t want to play black metal, so he recorded the bass lines for the album and then left the band.

The band’s third full-length album, Under a Funeral Moon, was released in early 1993. The album marked the last record on which guitarist Zephyrous would perform. Darkthrone released their fourth album, Transilvanian Hunger in 1994. It was Darkthrone’s first album as a duo and the band would remain a duo from this point onwards. After moving to another record label, Moonfog Productions, the band released their fifth studio album, Panzerfaust in 1995. Their sixth full-length album, Total Death, was released in 1996. Darkthrone made very few live appearances for a variety of reasons. Their last concert took place in 1996 and it was a one-off event.

Members

Current

Fenriz (a.k.a. Gylve Fenris Nagell) – drums, guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals (1986–present)
Nocturno Culto (a.k.a. Ted Skjellum) – vocals, guitars, bass (1988–present)

Past

Anders Risberget – guitar (1986–1988)
Zephyrous (a.k.a. Ivar Enger) – guitar (1987–1993)
Dag Nilsen – bass (1988–1991)