Various Artists "Blackend IV"

Blackend 4 is a compilation album from Metal Blade Records, focusing on Black Metal. Released in 1998.

Track list:

CD1

1. Witchery   Witchery
2. Myrkskog A Poignant Scenario Of Death
3. Usurper Dismal Wings Of Terror
4. Hecate Enthroned Thy Sorrow Bequeathed
5. Primordial Autumns Ablaze
6. Thorns The Dicipline Of Earth
7. Emperor    Decrystallizing Reason
8. Prophanity Awaiting The Valkyries Arrival
9. Odium  Towards The Forest
10. Misfortune The Prophecy
11. Ashes Son Of Mourning
12. Opeth The Amen Corner

CD2

1. Limbonic Art A Demonoid Virtue
2. Enslaved    In Chains Until Ragnarok
3. Myrkskog A Macabre Fanfare To The Devil
4. Behemoth The Past Is Like A Funeral
5. Peccatum I Breathe Without Access To Air
6. Diabolical Masquerade     Riders On The Bonez
7. Darkwoods My Betrothed  Inside The Circle Of Stones
8. Thy Serpent Circle Of Pain
9. Witchery Awaiting The Exorcist

Darkwoods My Betrothed "Witch-Hunts"

In 1998, the band returned with Witch-Hunts, a conceptual album which eschewed much of the melodic stylings of the previous two albums; the Viking metal sound was replaced with black metal. Due to numerous delays by the record label, it was released roughly one year after it was originally planned.

After the release of "Witch-Hunts", the band split up for a few years until they came back with a new line-up, a compilation album and potential live work. Afterwards, the band split up again with no return.

Track list:

1. Without Ceremony and Bell Toll 05:59   
2. Inside the Circle of Stones 06:38   
3. The Crow and Warrior 04:21   
4. Dying to Meet You 06:14  
5. The Preacher Came to Town 07:16   
6. Burn, Witches, Burn 05:39   
7. Witch Hunters 05:31   

Total time:  41:38  

Spoken parts in first track are taken from the movie 'Hellraiser III : Hell on Earth'.

All music composed in 1996-1997.

Recording information:

Recorded at Kitee Huvikeskus Studio during Autumn 1997 and Spring 1998.

Co-produced by Darkwoods My Betrothed.

Mixed and mastered at Finnvox Studios.

Darkwoods My Betrothed "Autumn Roars Thunder"

1996 saw the release of Autumn Roars Thunder, this time under the Solistitium label. Though retaining the same anti-Christian and Odinistic rhetoric, the music itself moved away from the melodic viking approach and entered back into a faster, more black metal-oriented direction.

Track list:

1. Autumn Roars Thunder 11:12  
2. Nightowl 05:35  
3. When Ancient Spirits Battled 04:36   
4. The Conspiracy of the Pagan Cult 04:22  
5. Hymn of the Darkwoods 06:06   
6. On the Top of the Falconhill 04:57   
7. King's Gray Shadow 05:36   
8. I Burn at the Stake 05:22   
9. Red Sky over the Land of Fells 04:43   

Total time:   52:29

Co-produced by Darkwoods My Betrothed.

Recording information:

Recorded at Walltone Studio in 1996.

Darkwoods My Betrothed "Heirs of the Northstar"

Darkwoods My Betrothed was a black metal band from Kitee, Finland.

Formed in 1992 as Virgin Cunt, they set out to be the "most blasphemous black metal band in Europe", in a rather tongue-in-cheek sense. After recording a couple demos under this name, the band started to take themselves a lot more seriously and changed their name to Darkwoods My Betrothed. They recorded the demo Dark Aureolis Gathering in 1994, not too different from the band's roots in extreme black metal, but it started to show serious maturity in the song-writing and delivery; not only a traditional black metal shriek, the singers also did a wail-type of scream.

In 1995, Hammerheart Productions released Heirs of the Northstar, their first full-length album, which was a turning for the group. The band started to experiment with a slower-paced and more melodic viking metal sound, and usage of "drunken Viking" style clean vocals mixed with the traditional black metal screams. The lyrics were also quite different from those in the demo days; rather than dark and Satanic rantings, bassist/lyricist Teemu started a powerful fascination with Odinism and the Gods of Valhalla, and anger towards Christianity.

Track list

1. My Eyes Are Frozen 03:31   
2. One Son of the Northstar 05:36   
3. Uller 05:31  
4. From the Snowy Hillsides They Came 04:13  
5. In a Silent Night 04:35   
6. Come Fimbulvetr 05:27   
7. Yggdrasil's Children Fall 16:04   

Total time:   44:57

1st CD pressing was black disc, white lettering (lim. to 1000?)

2nd CD pressing was white disc, black lettering (lim. to 1000?)

Yggdrasil's Children Fall consists of six different acts in one song:

-Act I: The Death of Balder

-Act II: A Farewell to the Son of Odin

-Act III: Hermod's Ride to Hel

-Act IV: The Bounding of Loki

-Act V: The Final Battle

-Act VI: A New Heaven, a New Earth

Recorded in 12-15.11.1994 at Walltone Studio, Finland.

Reissued and remastered in 2011 by Kvltvre Records / No Sign of Life.

Recording information:

Recorded at Walltone Studio in Savonlinna, Finland between 12 - 15.11.1994.