A Blaze in the Northern Sky

Infobox Album |
Name = A Blaze in the Northern Sky
Type = studio
Artist = Darkthrone

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Released = February 1992
Recorded = August 1991 at Creative Studios in Kolbotn, Norway
Genre = Black metal
Length = 42:05
Label = Peaceville Records
Producer = Darkthrone
Reviews =
* Metal Reviews [http://www.metalreviews.com/reviews/detail.php3?id=1926 Classic Status]
*Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:rkuk6ja77190 link]
Last album = "Soulside Journey"
(1990)
This album = "A Blaze in the Northern Sky"
(1992)
Next album = "Under a Funeral Moon"
(1993)

"A Blaze in the Northern Sky" is the second album by the Norwegian black metal band, Darkthrone. It was released in February 1992 and contains the band's first black metal recordings.

Due to Darkthrone's sudden change from death metal to black metal, Peaceville Records was reluctant to release the album in its original form. [Darkthrone video interview from: "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" (2003 reissue)] The band then threatened to release it through Deathlike Silence Productions, the record label owned by Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth. [Darkthrone video interview from: "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" (2003 reissue)] However, Peaceville eventually agreed to release the album as it was recorded. In an interview, Fenriz said that the album was somewhat "rushed" as many of the songs feature "death metal guitar riffs" simply played in a "black metal style". [Darkthrone video interview from: "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" (2003 reissue)]

After recording his parts for the album, as a session member, bassist Dag Nilsen left Darkthrone. The person who appears on the front cover is Ivar Enger (Zephyrous), the band's rhythm guitarist.

The album was remastered and reissued by Peaceville in 2003, as well as being repackaged in a cardboard digipak. The second chapter of a four-part video interview (spanning the first four albums) between Fenriz and Nocturno Culto was also included as bonus material.

Track listing

#"Kathaarian Life Code" – 10:39
#"In the Shadow of the Horns" – 7:02
#"Paragon Belial" – 5:25
#"Where Cold Winds Blow" – 7:26
#"A Blaze in the Northern Sky" – 4:58
#"The Pagan Winter" – 6:35

Credits

*Fenriz – drums, recording vocals
*Nocturno Culto – lead guitar, Vocals
*Zephyrous – rhythm guitar
*Dag Nilsen – bass guitar (session musician)

References