Darkthone Tribute: 12 Bands Tell Us Why the Badass Black-Metal Barons Rule on Their 40th Anniversary (Exclusive)

With all the hoopla surrounding bands boasting anniversaries of their major milestones, whether it be sticking together after 30-plus years or playing a tour after decades of dormany, it’s crucial that extreme metalheads don’t forget one especially important 2026 celebration, especially in the black-metal netherworld.

That would be the 40th anniversary of Norway’s Darkthrone, who influenced the development and dissemination of black metal around the world more than arguably any other band not named Emperor, Mayhem, Bathory or Burzum. This year also marks the 35th anniversary of the release of their debut, Soulside Journey – which also was, ironically, Darkthrone’s only death-metal album.

Recognizing those milestones, metal publication Antichrist Magazine – based appropriately in Hell, Norway – released the simply named but dense in high-quality material A Tribute to Darkthrone. It was one of a series of like-minded compilations the outlet has issued and dropped in late July. With enormous help from the rep behind that various-artists collection, we received a slew of testimonials from 12 of the 17 bands who contributed exclusive songs to the comp about why they worship at the altar of Darkthrone.

[Ed. note: Don’t miss our recent story about the similar tribute album that Antichrist Magazine recently issued [best pun ever, right] in honor of Metallica.]

[Ed. note: The new comp isn’t to be confused with the similar-named Tribute to Darkthrone that Ukraine’s Depressive Illusions Records put out in July 2015.]

Before we roll out all the praises that Darkthrone-loving bands sang to us, here’s the new tribute album in its entirety for you to use as a soundtrack to the rest of the read:

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1. Myrholt (an old-school black-metal band from Norway that contributed “Crossing the Triangle of Flames” as a Bandcamp bonus track)

“The first time I really discovered Darkthrone was when A Blaze in the Northern Sky was released [in 1992], though I had already briefly listened to Soulside Journey since a friend of mine had the CD. I heard the track ‘In the Shadow of the Horns’ on the Norwegian radio show Roxrevyen, and I was totally blown away. I ordered the CD from [a legendary] record store in Trondheim. The impact that album had on me cannot be exaggerated.

“When they released [1993’s] Under a Funeral Moon, I was equally mesmerized. The sound and the vibe was unique. I had already played the drums for a while, but this made me pick up the guitar, jamming the bass lines on an old classical guitar I found stashed away back home. So the influence was tremendous.

“I recorded my contribution to [A Tribute to Darkthrone] in my home studio in the barn on our farm during a couple of hours the final days before deadline – leeping the punk attitude alive. Hail Darkthrone! Total support to the Antichrist mag!”

2. Praesepultus (a raw black metal and dissonant death-metal band from Wisconsin)

“Darkthrone were one of the first black-metal bands I ever encountered and have remained one of the most important. I’m always excited to hear a new release from them. Even as their sound evolves time and time again with each album, they still remain staunchly independent and have maintained a great DIY aesthetic.

“I first heard Darkthrone probably around age 16. I was into thrash and death metal at that point, but Darkthrone – along with Satyricon and Immortal – were the first black-metal bands I discovered. Hearing the production on [1994’s] Transilvanian Hunger and Under a Funeral Moon was hugely influential to me, as I’d never heard anything sound like that before. They have some truly iconic riffs, and Nocturno Culto’s vocals are some of the best in the genre.

“I chose to participate [in this tribute] because Darkthrone is definitely a band that has influenced the sound and aesthetic of Praesepultus. Also, the [Darkthrone] song I chose [to cover], ‘Rust,’ is an underrated gem from the middle part of their career.”

3. Incineratus (a blackened death-metal band from South Georgia)

“Darkthrone stood out to me early on because of their ability to dabble in other genres, as well as their DIY approach to music. It was a major inspiration to experiment and take a punk-rock approach to creating music. Surely the first time I heard Darkthrone was when I was diving into all of the early black-metal bands from around Europe. This was in the days of LimeWire and other MP3 downloading sites, so I got a handful of songs from across their discography, noting that they all had different approaches to the art of black metal.

“Seeing that Darkthrone was primarily a one- or two-man band, that they experimented with all kinds of music, and that they had a DIY approach to making and publishing music, all had a major influence on me coming up. I grew up without much expendable income in an area with few metal musicians, so seeing that they could make amazing things with so little was inspiring. While Incineratus started as a solo project and is primarily composed by one individual, we have a full lineup for live shows and future recordings, so this compilation was a perfect opportunity for us to get into the studio together and create something great. It was an honor to be on a compilation with so many great acts.”

4. Death Brigade (a blackened death-metal band from Somerset, UK)

“Darkthrone, to us, is one of those quintessential black-metal bands that really defined the raw aggression and attitude of the early ’90s. We wouldn’t be doing what we are doing without them! Some of us old guys in the band were aware of Darkthrone since the mid-’90s, with [1995’s] Panzerfaust being one of those classic records along with Mayhem, Emperor, etc.

“We wouldn’t be where we are without Darkthrone. The real essence of black metal comes from some of their early albums, and the songs are timeless even now! We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to cover one of our favourite tracks by a big influencial band!”

5. Tyranno (an old-school metal band from Rio de Janeiro)

“Darkthrone created something significant with their dark music. I consider them a major influence on my writing. Each phase of theirs shaped how I see extreme music. Few bands can move through different styles without sounding like trend-chasers or sellouts. So we couldn’t stay out of a tribute like this. It honestly meant a lot to me.”

6. Aske (a black-metal band from Finland celebrating 35 years in their own right)

According to mastermind Filipi Salvini: “I believe Darkthrone offers a masterclass in music. If you look at extreme metal bands in general, I get the impression that they frown upon changing their sound or doing something different. That’s not the case with Darkthrone. Listen to Soulside Journey and [2006’s] The Cult Is Alive, and tell me what you hear. To me, that represents honesty toward the music itself. Being able to re-record ‘Too Old Too Cold’ for this tribute felt like doing my homework.

“When I listened to the Panzerfaust album, the song that really caught my attention was ‘Quintessence,’ because of its lyrics. I thought they were in extremely good taste! Later, I discovered that the lyrics had been written by [convicted murderer, notorious neo-Nazi, and Mayhem and Burzum contributor] Varg Vikernes — whose compositions I also love. Panzerfaust and The Cult Is Alive are my favorite albums. Along with Soulside Journey, this trio of albums showcases everything black metal has ever produced in terms of musical aesthetics. You get a summary of all the strands of extreme-metal aesthetics in these three records. Listening to Darkthrone is like reading an encyclopedia.

“Having the privilege of taking part in this tribute [felt] like picking up a book you read in childhood and reading it again years later – seeing it through fresh eyes, with a different perspective and a lifetime of experience. It’s like becoming a child again, but this time not just listening to the music — playing it too, and being grateful for having been born in this era. Our ancestors died before they could ever hear Darkthrone. Can you imagine how lonely that must have been?”

7. Lamenting Satanas (an anonymous blackened death-metal band from the U.S.)

According to band member 𒐖: “Darkthrone was one of the first black-metal bands I’ve ever heard. They were featured on an issue of a metal magazine that I bought from the local bodega. I loved their sound and imagery immediately, and [their music] stuck with me throughout the years. The first time I listened to them must have been when I was 14 or 15. Their newest album at the time was [2008’s] Dark Thrones and Black Flags. [I most admire Darkthrone’s] atmosphere and melody – especially the material from A Blaze in the Northern Sky to Transilvanian Hunger.

“Since we prefer not to play shows at the moment, in between albums we like to record videos, new music and covers. So we actually had plans to do a cover of [the song] ‘Transilvanian Hunger’ for a while, and I knew we had to hop on the tribute as soon as I saw the email.”

8. Mead Thief (a doom- and pagan-metal project from Denver)

“Darkthrone represents total raw heavy-metal creation to me. The first black metal I ever heard was Transilvanian Hunger while riding my bike in early winter as the first snow of the year began to fall around me. That experience set Darkthrone deeply in my metal mind. Their studio ethos influenced me to record alone without trendy pristine production and just try to write cool music. I was excited to cover ‘Raised on Rock’ for this tribute, because I love that song and wanted to re-create its energy while adding a few twists of my own. Thank you for listening, Hail Heavy Fucking Metal!”

9. Vephar (a death-metal band from Wrocław, Poland)

“We both crossed paths with Darkthrone years ago when digging deep into the underground scene, and their classic era left a solid mark on our understanding of raw metal. To us, Darkthrone has always represented the uncompromising spirit of doing things entirely on your own terms. Contributing to this compilation was our way of honoring their relentless, no-bullshit approach to making heavy music.”

10. Genocide Kvlt (black-metal extremists hailing from Lubsko, Poland)

“Hailz! Darkthrone are one of the most influential black-metal bands, especially their A Blaze in the Northern Sky [era], Under a Funeral Moon and Transilvanian Hunger albums. Pure Frostbitten Scandinavian Misanthropy [a phrase used to describe the aesthetics, themes and cultural cores characteristic of the subgenre Norwegian Second Wave Black Metal in the early 1990s]! The atmosphere created by the cold and harsh sounds were a milestone back then, great for listening during summertime to ease the heat and bring some winter into the room (or basement).

“[Our drummer] Sarin Supreme Commander got to know them in the ’90s, as he is in the old guard too. So it took me many years; probably somewhere between. 2009 and 2011. That was a formative time for my more extreme approach into metal. As for our young stormtroopers on guitars, they [didn’t enter Darkthrone’s fold until sometime between 2018 and 2020. [What I found most appealing about Darkthrone is their ability to create an] atmosphere of coldness, unrelenting hatred for humankind and ‘catchy’ (I hate that word in this context but can’t find anything more self-explanatory) riffs/compositions. Those are the main elements that inspire us as harbingers of sonic annihilation, hatred and scorn (musicians would be an overstatement).

“Sarin Supreme Commander keeps tabs on what is going on around zine creators, and when he found out about the Dakrthrone tribute project, he informed us about it. We chose to cover ‘Quintessence’ for the reasons most people wouldn’t fathom. Go listen to Death Camp Earth’s Szron (I won’t give you exact track; listen to the whole album [it’s available in full on YouTube] and you will know, plus the band’s music is pure Darkthrone worship). We recorded the track, sent it and were done. We were honoured to be a part of it and pay homage to Darkthrone thanks to Antichrist mag … so go and blast this fucker the loudest you can or FUCK OFF AND DIE!”

11. Galdragon (a blackened thrash metal and extreme metal band from Scotland)

“Darkthrone will always be a major influence of mine, as a musician first and foremost – so they mean a lot. I am a fan of their entire career, and I always look forward to hearing their latest album and what direction they take next. Darkthrone’s vast catalogue covers many of my musical interests, from the early black-metal classics, through to the genre-crossing latter records.

“It’s difficult to remember exactly when I first heard them, but it was likely around the time I started high school. I soon started listening to a broader spectrum of music, but mostly metal at the time. Hearing bands like Satyricon naturally opened the door to the world of black metal. I remember the first time hearing the Transilvanian Hunger album and genuinely having an experience of fear, excitement and wonder all at once!

Listening to Darkthrone for all these years has influenced the way I write music, how I create and experiment with atmospheres and compositions, taking a particularly guitar-driven approach as they often do. Darkthrone have shown me the importance of not being bound to genres, trends and expectations. This is an ethos I adopted in Galdragon, and other projects.

It was a great chance to pay tribute and respect to a band that means a great deal to me, who shaped me as a musician and who have provided me with endless hours of listening pleasure and inspiration. I am truly greatful to have had the opportunity to be part of this compilation. A great experience.

12. Gravethorn (blackened death-metal band from Las Vegas)

“The importance of Darkthrone in the metal underground can’t be stated enough. The ‘we do it our way with no regard to other opinions’ attitude is a virtue of true metal fans, and Darkthrone are great ambassadors to the underground.

“I discovered Darkthrone when I was working in a record store, and they tasked me with expanding the metal section. We found an underground music distributor, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time: It was when the early ’90s death-metal explosion started happening. I saw the list of debut releases, and Darkthrone’s Soulside Journey was on it. I liked the name but knew very little of them, so I took a chance and ordered a few copies. I purchased one of them and never looked back.

“A Blaze in the Northern Sky was directly responsible for a turning point in my taste in music. It was the first recording that I heard that actually sounded cold. I remember bringing the new release to a party to listen to it (back when people got together for things like that). Out of the 30 or so people there, about five of us really connected with it. I’ve been in several black- and death-metal bands since then. Prior to that, I tried singing in a thrash band. It was a short stint, and I never really thought about [performing] again until Darkthrone opened that door for me … one that I’ve been going throughout the 35 or so years of my life.

“That’s why I wanted to do ‘Cromlech,’ the first song I ever heard by [Darkthrone], to pay homage to them. Perhaps, some day, if Fenriz hears this compilation, I can only hope his first listen to Gravethorn is as enjoyable for him as ‘Cromlech’ was for me way back in 1991.”

For good measure, here’s a video clip of Fenriz talking about the importance of Darkthrone’s 40th anniversary: