In Times Before the Light

Infobox Album | Name = In Times Before the Light
Type = Album
Artist = The Kovenant


Released = 1997
Recorded = X-Ray Studios
in the fall of 1995
Genre = Black metal
Length = 57:02
Label = Mordgrimm
Producer = Covenant (The Kovenant) and Sire Johannesen
Reviews =
Last album =
This album = "In Times Before the Light"
(1997)
Next album = "Nexus Polaris"
(1998)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Remix Edition
Type = studio


Lower caption = 2002 Remix

"In Times Before the Light" is the first studio album from Norwegian black metal band, The Kovenant, and was released in 1997 through Mordgrimm.

Album History

"In Times Before the Light" is the first album The Kovenant (at that time called Covenant) created back in 1995. The only members at the time were Nagash and Blackheart. The album is considered to be symphonic black metal and provided Covenant a good fan base in Norway. The album was created when Nagash and Blackheart were of young age, at least 17 years old. To "true black metal" fans this is considered their best album.

A remastered version of "In Times Before the Light" was released in 2002 and now 2007 through Hammerheart Records and Nuclear Blast Records due to Nagash and Blackheart (now 'Lex Icon' and 'Psy Coma') citing that they were not satisfied with the original release. The outcome is significantly different from the original, an industrial version of symphonic black metal album. The remixed tracks are longer, various elements were added to them and some parts were re-recorded.

Track listing

Original album

#"Towards the Crown of Nights" – 5:53
#"Dragonstorms" – 4:59
#"The Dark Conquest" – 6:56
#"From the Storm of Shadows" – 5:15
#"Night of the Blackwinds" – 3:41
#"The Chasm" – 3:46
#"Visions of a Lost Kingdom" – 3:27
#"Through the Eyes of the Raven" – 5:02
#"In Times Before the Light" – 6:01
#"Monarchs of the Mighty Darkness" – 5:54

Remixed version

#"Towards the Crown of Nights" – 6:30
#"Dragonstorms" – 5:20
#"The Dark Conquest" – 7:39
#"From the Storm of Shadows" – 5:35
#"Night of the Blackwinds" – 3:57
#"The Chasm" – 4:39
#"Visions of a Lost Kingdom" – 5:57
#"Through the Eyes of the Raven" – 5:05
#"In Times Before the Light" – 6:04
#"Monarchs of the Mighty Darkness" – 6:16

Personnel

*Nagash (Stian Arnesen, N. Blackheart in original liner notes) - Vocals/Drums/Synth
*Blackheart (Amund Svensson, T. Blackheart in original liner notes) - Guitars/Bass/Synth

Other information

*Engineered by Sire Johannesen; produced by both Covenant & Sire Johannesen
*Digitally mastered at The Exchange; executive production by Noctis Irae
*All symphonies arranged & composed by Covenant during the period 1992-1995
*All poetry penned by Covenant between the years 1993-1995
*Cover painting by Alex Kurtagic
*Logo by Christophe Szpajdel
*Portraits taken by Close Up
*Art design conceived by Covenant
*Layout and design executed by Digitalis