Darkthrones A Blaze in the Northern Sky

(Hardback)

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Description

Darkthrones 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.

Reviews

Hagen is uniquely placed to navigate [black metal's] paradoxes, as well as the sub-genres wider social significance. His exploration here of black metals appeal as a form of contemporary Nordic folk music, and his theoretical deliberations on the scenes romantic and "modernist aspects, are both forthright and stimulating ... [A] thought-provoking analysis. * Record Collector *

Author Bio

Ross Hagen is Assistant Professor of Music Studies at Utah Valley University Orem, USA. His research interests include black metal, music fan cultures, avant-garde music, and musical medievalism. He is also a bassist and composer in several black metal bands.