Description
Book SynopsisDarkthrone's A Blaze in the Northern Sky (1992) is a foundational keystone of the musical and aesthetic vision of the notorious Norwegian black metal scene and one of the most beloved albums of the genre. Its mysterious artwork and raw sound continue to captivate and inspire black metal fans and musicians worldwide. This book explores the album in the context of exoticism and musical geography, examining how black metal music has come to conjure images of untamed Nordic wildernesses for fans worldwide. In doing so, it analyzes aspects of musical style and production that created the distinctly grim sound of Darkthrone and Norwegian black metal.
Trade ReviewHagen is uniquely placed to navigate [black metal's] paradoxes, as well as the sub-genre’s wider social significance. His exploration here of black metal’s appeal as a form of contemporary Nordic folk music, and his theoretical deliberations on the scene’s “romantic” and "modernist” aspects, are both forthright and stimulating ... [A] thought-provoking analysis. * Record Collector *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: “Kathaarian Life Code” 1. “In the Shadow of the Horns” 2. “Where Cold Winds Blow” 3. “Paragon Belial” 4. “The Pagan Winter”
Notes Bibliography
