Two of the most recognisable names in the entire black metal canon are without a doubt Fenriz and Nocturno Culto, the two men responsible for keeping Darkthrone - the legendary black metal responsible for "Transilvanian Hunger" - alive and kicking through more than four decades of true extreme black metal music.
While the band wasn't always a duo, the departure of Zephyrous after "Under a Funeral Moon" has left Fenriz and Nocturno Culto as the two sole directors of Darkthrone's legacy. It was up to them to keep the band true, and avoid falling into the traps of Immortal-esque Jerry Springer drama nonsense. So far, they have succeeded and surpassed all expectations.
There will of course more on the particular case of Zephyrous in this post. He is known as the guitarist who wrote some of the best riffs on "Under a Funeral Moon" and, while "Transilvanian Hunger" is overall the better album, this point along with the mystical nature of the character, have created a certain aura around Zephyrous. But since he was likely unavailable for comments, this post will focus more on the Nocturno Culto and Fenriz interviews... there's more than enough material here!
Darkthrone's Members Fire Back At Trendy Black Metal
Nocturno Culto and Fenriz are mostly known for their tact, but they also know when to dish out the verbal punishment at bands they deem unworthy and commercially-minded (the likes of Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Watain, Antekhrist, Arch Enemy, and the rest of the clown corral).
What Fenriz and Nocturno thought of Euronymous and Mayhem...?
In a recent interview with expert heavy metal author Antoine Grand, for the upcoming release of the "Heavy Metal Master Class" project in collaboration with Emile Alquier, Darkthrone members Fenriz and Nocturno Culto were asked numerous questions about the history of old school black metal, the current state of the scene, and their relationship with other black metal musicians.
One name in particular is important due to the historical significance of his owner: Euronymous, aka Øystein Aarseth, whose nephew Heinrich is currently playing alongside Dead's younger brother Daniel in the death metal band Morbid. What did the Darkthrone "bros" think of Euronymous?
Fenriz: I think [Euronymous] played a role mostly through supporting the darker bands... I think it was great to have him there like sort of an anchor you know. He was a real anchor.Nocturno Culto: MAYHEM's 'front figure' earlier on did inspire some people with a lot of spectacular thinking, but had nothing to do with DARKTHRONE's decisions.
While Euronymous may have been an 'anchor' in the sense of aesthetic influence, Darkthrone's insistence on musical independence and artistic autonomy makes that anchor feel more like a navigational compass than an actual obligatory chain.
In another interview about Mayhem's influence on Darkthrone, Fenriz once again plays down the musical elements while emphasising Euronymous' role in bringing black metal fans together from all over the country (Norway).
Fenriz: For me, Mayhem sounds like Mayhem, Immortal sounds like Immortal, Burzum sounds like Burzum. So we in the scene were thinking we were not going in the same direction. And a few years later, it was apparent that everyone was going in different directions anyway.
He also briefly touches on his relationship with Varg Vikernes of Burzum, and how in the years of 1993 to 1995 everyone was basically forced to "pick a side"... while Darkthrone preferred to remain out of it and focus on writing music.
Darkthrone vs the Trends (Dimmu Borgir, Gorgoroth, Keep of Kalessin, etc.)
Fenriz and Nocturno Culto were then asked a very valid question... what makes a black metal band "underground" in the first place?
Obviously, we know who isn't underground: the big sellout names. But this trend of "image over sound", as in using corpse paint and black metal vocals to hide the very mundane and timid radio rock played by bands like Dimmu Borgir or Gorgoroth - the latter who are no friends of Darkthrone, or black metal in general (just read what Fenriz had to say about King ov Hell and Infernus last year).
Fenriz: Black metal already sold out arenas and did far worse things than MTV, they did, and do, The Eurovision Song Contest with crap like Keep Of Kalessin and the even more ridiculous Gromth. It's embarrassing for everyone. Everyone.Nocturno Culto: I don't listen to much new metal, and the bands I do listen to are often pretty obscure. You won't find many DARKTHRONE fans at a GORGOROTH show (laughs).
Fenriz's contempt for the trendified black-metal circus known as "nowadays black metal" is evident, and when asked his thoughts about cargo cult metal bands like Watain and Dark Funeral, his answer was incisive as always. The Dark Lords of Darkthrone don't play around with "trends".
Fenriz: Black metal didn't need a push, not post 93, since then it's needed more obscurity and hasn't got it. [...] Do you prefer bands that look like they're from Twilight going to the circus and think that they are underground because their Cradle Of Filth/Dimmu Borgir rip off style doesn't sell? Underground is an attitude, a Rammstein cover band will forever have an overground mentality even if no one comes to their shows. It's about wanting to do some plastic style that others have success with, it's disgusting.
No truer words have ever been spoken. Do you know anyone who goes to a Gorgoroth show, anyway?
And lastly, on the matter of Zephyrous (Ivar Enger), leaving the band in 1993 and never returning. Rumours have it that he is about to begin a new black metal project, possibly linked to Darkthrone themselves, but such rumours have been going on since the mid-1990s (when he left the band in the first place).
Nocturno Culto: Everyone is dying to know, what happened to Zephyrous and what is he doing now? ... This is truly delicate matters, he was about to do something really drastic to his surroundings, but I managed to keep him away from it, so he left DARKTHRONE in extreme anger. I still talk to him once in a while though.
According to Fenriz, the story is a bit different... one day, Zephyrous simply walked into the woods and never came back!
At any rate, Darkthrone shows the way to have a lengthy and superb black metal career and still remain "true" to the genre's ethos. Did you know Fenriz and Nocturno Culto still work side jobs (postman and art teacher, respectively) when they could have made more money by simply selling out Emperor style? If you wanted to know what is true underground, it's right there. It's a matter of character and conviction in your art, not "how you dress" or other nonsense.
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