The general conceit within black metal is that the rawer and more under-produced the album the more authentic and trve it sounds. Therefore remastering and remixing records of that particular genre is a venture never likely to be met with universal praise. Not that a little fact like that has deterred Satyricon in any way, the Norwegian act even going so far as to completely change the artwork on their first two albums for these updated releases courtesy of Napalm Records.

Although never quite afforded the same legendary status as some of their peers, Satyricon still made a huge impact on the Norwegian black metal scene. Written entirely by a then seventeen-year-old Sigurd ‘Satyr’ Wongraven, the band’s full-length debut, Dark Medieval Times (Moonfog/Napalm) is a maelstrom of enthusiastic if undisciplined bedlam. Slashing riffs and pneumatic drumming suddenly twist into slower and insistent melodic rhythms or ambient/acoustic sections, the transitions often jarring rather than natural but still hugely effective in their own way. Bolstered by a remastering process that simply brings out the best in what was already there rather than trying to change anything too drastically, Dark Medieval Times sounds every bit as cold and dark as it did back in 1993.

Already showing signs of what was to come, the leap from DMT to its 1994 follow-up was both obvious and instantaneous. Better produced, more refined in its songwriting, and featuring improved performances from Satyr and drummer Kjetil-Vidar Haraldstad (aka Frost), The Shadowthrone (Moonfog/Napalm) also features contributions from a certain Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen (Samoth from fellow countrymen Emperor). Wider in scope than its predecessor, the guitars are razor-sharp, the drums punch with genuine impact and the melodies are demonic little earworms that burrow into your brain and stay there forever. 

From Satyr’s chilling opening vocal on the epic ‘Hvite Krists død’ to the almost “black’n’roll” riffing of later releases on ‘In the Mist by the Hills’ to the traditional Nordic elements of ‘Vikingland’ and funereal instrumental ‘I En Svart Kiste’, The Shadowthrone is the first real jewel in the Satyricon crown, this new and revitalising mix only serving to enhance an already great record. 

Buy the albums here: https://www.lo-fi-merchandise.com/collections/satyricon/

GARY ALCOCK