Interesting material from Darkthrone's rehersal days back in the early part of the last decade. I suppose the best part of this album, and certainly the most noteworthy, is the fact that most of the material found here has been basically unreleased untill now. All of the songs are void of vocals, and the majority of the cuts don't even have names at all.

They perform the whole "Blaze..." cd, and just to hear "Where Cold Winds Blow" in this format makes the whole cd worthwhile. Aside from this, it appears to me that they were still entranced with their Autopsy worship at the time, as the majority of the material is very doom oriented death metal, primarily focused on eerie harmonies and slow crushing guitars. Although somewhat appealing, not all together what I like in Darkthrone.

A very interesting cd that would appeal to every fan of Darkthrone. It was only released n fifty units... making this an obviously rare find. Here is a track list for the cd, not including various "untitled" cuts.

1. A Blaze in the Northern Sky
2. Kathaarian Life Code
3. The Pagan Winter
4. Where Cold Winds Blow
5. In the Shadow of the Horns
6. Rex
7. Hearses>
8. Possessed
9. The Rise
10. Below

© 2002 orodruin