One of the most overlooked items in Darkthrone’s expansive back catalogue is undoubtedly ‘Under a Funeral Moon’. Sandwiched between the infamous ‘A Blaze in the Northern Sky’ and ‘Transylvanian Hunger’ it’s not difficult to see why this ’93 opus doesn’t get the attention it deserves, however, it still remains one of the fundamental elements of ‘true Norwegian black metal’.
20 years later and Peaceville, much like many other Darkthrone releases, have reissued this record as a double CD complete with liner notes and audio narrative from drummer Fenriz. For those that have been living under a rock and are blissfully unaware of the influence this duo have imparted upon many bands to come after them, ‘…Funeral Moon’ is the album that saw Darkthrone take black metal fully into their stride and is the ultimate representation of the very core of this genre. Grim and rigid, these tracks are a departure from predecessor ‘Blaze…’, moving away from the dynamic epics of ‘In the Shadow of the Horns’ onto the razor-sharp, grittiness and simplicity of ‘Natassja in Eternal Sleep’. Everything about this release is reductive, right down to lyrical content; “alcohol is in my veins…”.
Still very much relevant today, the reissue of this classic comes beautifully packaged in a stern looking cardboard booklet with liner notes and lyrics set into the centre on glossy pages with splendid blackened artwork to look upon. This is ideal for hardcore Darkthrone fans and newcomers alike; the narration from Fenriz on disc two provides not just a fresh insight into the music but also an objective, almost comical take on the songs and the band making it all seem that much more human and accessible.
(8/10 Angela Davey)
https://www.burningshed.com/store/peaceville/product/261/4915/
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