Formation and Peaceville Records

The band was formed in Kolbotn, Norway in 1987 as Black Death, the band released several demo cassettes and were subsequently signed to Peaceville Records on a four album contract. After changing their name to ''Darkthrone'', the band released their first full length album, ''Soulside Journey'' in 1990. The album was cleanly produced in a technical death metal style characterised by progressive song structure, complex drumming patterns, and fast, accurate riffing (a style popular with Swedish death metal at the time - as Uffe of Entombed helped produce the album), while still hinting at and incorporating some black metal riffs, sounds and imagery in the album sleeve and artwork. The band met Euronymous, who impressed them so much they decided to change their sound. Soon afterward, Darkthrone adopted the aesthetic style that would come to represent the black metal scene, wearing corpsepaint and working under occult pseudonyms. At this point, bassist Dag Nilsen left the band (but still played, listed as "Session Bass", on their next album ''A Blaze in the Northern Sky''). This album was strongly inspired by the works of Bathory and Celtic Frost. No longer using death metal vocal stylings, Darkthrone decided to change the way they sounded. Peaceville Records was originally skeptical about releasing the album due to Darkthrone's extreme diversion from the death metal style.{{Citation
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The band delved even deeper into the black metal sound with the their following album, ''Under a Funeral Moon'', which has since established itself as a landmark for the genre as a whole. It was followed by ''Transilvanian Hunger'', which is generally regarded as Darkthrone's finest work, although the band itself regards it as being a rather atypical Darkthrone record. All of these early black metal albums were characterised by raw sound, extremely low fidelity recording quality, and musical simplicity. Darkthrone remains a powerful force in the black metal genre, although they have experimented with their influences over the years.

Darkthrone received some criticism for a statement that they had intended to print on the ''Transilvanian Hunger'' album: ''"We would like to state that Transilvanian Hunger stands beyond any criticism. If any man should attempt to criticize this LP, he should be thoroughly patronized for his obviously Jewish behavior."'' Following pressure from Peaceville Records, Darkthrone wrote a formal letter of apology, and retracted the statement, although that the phrase ''"Norsk Arisk Black Metal"'' ("Norwegian Aryan Black Metal") remained on the pressing until its 2001 reissue certainly raises questions regarding the sincerity of the band's apology.

Moonfog Albums

Darkthrone moved to the Moonfog label (ran by Satyr from Satyricon) for subsequent releases.

After the recording of their next album ''Panzerfaust'' (1995), Zephyrous (Ivar Enger) left the band, supposedly disappearing into misanthropy, although he did not perform on either ''Transilvanian Hunger'' or ''Panzerfaust''. (The band states that Zephyrous's last musical contribution was ''Under A Funeral Moon'').

Their next release, ''Total Death'' (1996), was recorded with lyrics from various Norweigan musicians of the time.

In 1997 Darkthrone released the ''Goatlord'' album. The ''Goatlord'' album was a rehearsal tape recorded between ''Soulside Journey'' and ''A Blaze In The Northern Sky'' which was scrapped after the band had changed its sound (although this album being unlike any other Darkthrone album in style or purpose, neither death metal or black metal, and a sound/music style that would only come to pass in many years time). Drummer Fenriz and Satyr (of Satyricon) added vocal tracks to the recording in 1994.

1999 saw the release of the album ''Ravishing Grimness'', in which Darkthrone delved deeper into obvious Celtic Frost inspiration and even some punk influence. Many fans derided the album for its "clean production", a few even going so far as to claim the band "sold out".

Since 1999 Fenriz has also been recording with Eibon, a "supergroup" of sorts, with Satyr of Satyricon, Killjoy of Necrophagia and Phil Anselmo of Pantera, although their debut album seems destined to never be released.

In 2000 ''Plaguewielder'' came roaring back with the "necro" style production{{Cite web
| last = Smith
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| title = Interview With Darkthrone
| url=http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=4&id=4515
| accessdate = 2007-08-20}}. Darkthrone were becoming comfortable with their "new" evolution and direction, one which would follow on into their next albums. The importance of holding on to the old ways and fans, too stubborn to evolve themselves, was, as always, the least of their worries.

After a long break Darkthrone released the album ''Hate Them'' in 2003. Going even further back to their "necro" roots and sound than the previous two, the album being a more repetitive and "straight up" release , once again influenced highly by Celtic Frost.

In 2004 they released ''Sardonic Wrath''. Even beyond previous works this was considered the true come-back to the old form and would almost dictate the future style and progression of the band over the next release and singles.

Return to Peaceville

In 2005, Darkthrone confirmed they had returned to Peaceville Records after leaving in 1994. They had also started up their own record label ''Tyrant Syndicate Productions'', which will release their albums in the future (with Peaceville/Snapper Music distributing). To celebrate their return, Peaceville re-issued the ''Preparing For War'' CD Anthology covering their first era at Peaceville with a bonus CD of additional demos and a DVD of rare live performances. Peaceville has also re-released the four original recordings on their label with an added interview video on each explaining the recording process and their time during the period of these releases.

Darkthrone released their 12th album, ''The Cult Is Alive'', early 2006.
This was preceded by an EP titled ''Too Old, Too Cold'' which featured exclusive tracks (of particular note is a cover of "Love in a Void" by Siouxsie & the Banshees). Additionally, they filmed a video for ''Too Old, Too Cold'' which is included on the Special Edition CD of ''The Cult Is Alive''. The album brings with it a punk aesthetic/style to the songs. This album was the first Darkthrone album to chart in Norway, debuting at number 11.{{cite news
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| date = 2006-02-11
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On November 23, 2006, Peaceville released a limited edition 7" EP titled ''Forebyggende Krig'' via their website only, with the "Too Old , Too Cold " album track "Forebyggende Krig" and a cover of The Testors song "Bad Attitude".

2007 saw Darkthrone celebrate 20 years of existence

In 2007, guitarist/bassist/vocalist Nocturno Culto completed and released ''The Misanthrope'', a DVD Movie/Documentary which includes various recordings of his own making from 2004-2005.

In July they released the EP NWOBHM, a "taster" from the forthcoming album.

On 13th of September Darkthrone released their 13th full length album called "F.O.A.D.". F.O.A.D. is an acronym for "Fuck Off And Die" which is the fifth track of the album, a "hidden" tribute to Danish thrash/death band Desexult and their legendary demo "S.O.D.F.O.A.D".

Albums (Studio)

''Soulside Journey'' - (1990)

''A Blaze in the Northern Sky'' - (1992)

''Under a Funeral Moon'' - (1993)

''Transilvanian Hunger'' - (1994)

''Panzerfaust'' - (1995)

''Total Death'' - (1996)

''Goatlord'' - (1997) Recorded In 1990 - 1991

''Ravishing Grimness'' - (1999)

''Preparing For War'' (Best Of, 1988-1994) - (2000)

''Plaguewielder'' - (2001)

''Hate Them'' - (2003)

''Sardonic Wrath'' - (2004)

''Preparing For War'' (Re-Released as a Box Set with a bonus CD of demos and DVD of live rare performances and interviews) - (2005)

''The Cult is Alive'' - (2006)

''F.O.A.D.'' - (2007)

Singles/EPs

''God of Disturbance and Friction'' - Single, Released on "Moonfog 2000 - A Different Perspective" - (2000)

''Too Old, Too Cold'' EP - (2006) - Single/EP release with one new song (Too Old, Too Cold), an exclusive track featuring Grutle of Enslaved on guest vocals (High on Cold War), a cover of Siouxsie & The Banshees (Love In A Void), and an alternate vocal version of one other album track (Graveyard Slut).

''Forebyggende Krig'' 7 - (2006) - 7" online exclusive release limited to 2000 copies. Includes a cover of "Bad Attitude", originally recorded by Testors (American punk band from the late 1970's), with Fenriz on lead vocals.

''NWOBHM'' EP - (2007) - Single/EP released as a 'small taster' for the album F.O.A.D. with one new song exclusively for the EP (Hedninger Fra Helvete) which means 'Heathens From Hell'.

Bootlegs

Aside from Mayhem and Moonblood, Darkthrone may have the honor of being one of the most commonly bootlegged black metal bands. The three best known bootlegs include ''The Roots of Evilness Live'' which includes a live Darkthrone performance from 1990 with the ''Thulcandra'' demo recording; ''The True Legends In Black'', which is a split album with Mayhem and contains the ''Thulcandra'' demo; and ''A Night of Unholy Black Metal'', which contains a recording of Darkthrone's final live 1996 performance, four additional live songs from 1991, and five rehearsal tracks for ''Under A Funeral Moon''. There are also many other bootlegs that are not covered here.