Kings of Norwegian Black Metal (True Kings Of Norway)

Member Name: cognition

Product:	True Kings Of Norway
Date:	03/11/08 (131 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: collector's item EPs all gathered here

Disadvantages: Arguably Darkthrone and Mayhem should have been included

It is arguable who the true kings of Norwegian Black Metal really are. On this compilation CD the represented "kings" are Ancient, Arcturus, Dimmu Borgir, Emperor and Immortal. If the title was to be taken seriously, Darkthrone and Mayhem should have their spot here. But let's not get too carried away by that.

What you get here is a collection of these bands' very first EPs:

Emperor - As The Shadows Rise (7" ep '94)
Immortal - Immortal (7" ep '92)
Dimmu Borgir - Inn I Evighetens Mørke (7" ep '94)
Ancient - Det Glemte Riket (7" ep '94)
Arcturus - My Angel (7"ep '91)

Most of these EPs are collectors items and are very hard to get your hands on. Some of them have been re-released. Still, it's important to grasp the fact that this is no normal compilation CD. These are some of the very first underground offerings from bands that became extremely influential in the Norwegian and worldwide Black Metal scene.

As far as "True Norwegian Black Metal" goes, this is, in my opinion, one of the very best CDs you could get your hands on! Arguably, the most sincere and pure releases of the entire Black Metal movement were released in the early years of the few pioneering bands.

These recordings have been masterfully remastered. They sound raw and primal still, but are a much more pleasent listen than the actual original recordings ever were.

Included with this digipack is a "map" that shows how almost all the major Norwegian Black Metal bands are somehow related or share at least one member.

If I had to recommend one album to represent Norwegian Black Metal, I would probably have chosen Darkthrone's "A Blaze in the Northern Sky", but this album gets a very decent second place!

Summary: Amazing collection of early 90s Norwegian Black Metal rarities!