Customer Reviews

Under a Funeral Moon

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This album is a tribute to the primitive and thunderous Bathory albums which started the Scandinavian revival of that subgenre, using power chords like cudgels against boxy basic rhythms broken to fit dimensions of shuddering, resonant riffing. Fenriz strips down his drumming to emphasize its basic and simplistic tendencies, highlighting miniature epic pieces (in five power chords) with a light-footed sense of oncoming rhythmic change. While "Under a Funeral Moon" was controversial at its release for its deliberately distorted production, it is now seen as the forerunner of the "raw" experience that most of black metal is continuing to this day. One of the darkest voices of early modern black metal.

If you want to form a true black metal band then this is quite simply the unholy blue print for unsuccess. After Bathory's "Bathory" (1984), "The Return" (1985) and "Under the Sign of the Black Mark"(1987) there are no other albums that accurately represents what true black metal is meant to sound like, apart from other Darkthrone albums. Anyone immersed at the very extreme end of black metal will bear witness to the fact all true black metal strives to sound like this. So many people complain about the poor production, which I will admit for anyone approaching this for the first time from a more mainstream angle that it can at first be difficult to appreciate. This however is part of what makes it truly great. Some would say that this record is cold sounding, which is true. It is what would become known as the Necro sound. All the aesthetic principles of true black metal are present here from the buzzing sound of the guitar, the rattling sound of the "summoning", the satanic poetry to the black and white monochromatic artwork. This is a great introduction to best and most rewarding branch of black metal and the foundation upon which all other true black metal is built. Start here with Darkthrone and get the Bathory albums also, after that you're on your own because where this went does not appear on Amazon. Darkthrone were and are the most important band in the black metal underground in the nineties. Also check out "A Blaze in the Northern Sky" "Transylvanian Hunger" "Panzerfaust".

"Under A Funeral Moon" is Darkthrone's third album and the one that really cemented their reputation as one of the leaders of the black metal genre. Their first album, "Soulside Journey" was a haze of standard Swedish-style death metal and their second, "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" was inventive, but too close to their idols Celtic Frost for comfort. With this album, however, Darkthrone presents something new, exciting, and terrifying all at once.

For the most part rejecting the standard root-fifth powerchord that fueled almost all metal up until that point, Darkthrone creates a hellish wash of a distorted harmonics that ensnares the listener and forces him to come to terms with the onslaught before him. "Under A Funeral Moon" delivers a series of punishing tracks like "Natassja In Eternal Sleep," "Unholy Black Metal," and the title track in addition to slower, percussion driven tracks like "To Walk The Infernal Fields" that really bring the Celtic Frost influence to the front without sounding generic or overly derivative.

The production on this album is notoriously lo-fi, but its anemic sound gives it a certain mystique and obscurity not readily found in the crystal clarity of albums released by bands such as Emperor during this timeframe. Although Darkthrone's follow-up "Transilvanian Hunger" is probably the superior album, it's an extremely close call. "Under A Funeral Moon" is essential listening; it's one of THE black metal albums to have if you're going to have any at all. Highly recommended for black metal fans (who should already have the album anyway) and those looking for a good introduction to what Second Wave black metal was all about.

i used to veiw the black metel genre with contempt for taking itself too seriously. i thought the corpse paint and earnest satan worship was cornball and i was always critical of its elitism. but dark throne are a band that garners my total respect. they intentionally rejected musicality and polished recordings and wound up creating the most visceral music one can find. the poor production adds so much to the dark atmosphere, the rasping repetetive nature of the songs are truelly unique and mesmerizing. UNDER A FUNERAL MOON is the type of album that you flip on the turntable repeatedly, the type of record that demands obsessive listening. its ugliness is it's beauty.

darkthrone is by far one o fthe best true black metal bands out there, they craved out 4 masterpeices in a row (despite my thoughts on translyvanian hunger ill call it a masterwork), all 4 of them have a special quality that stands them out from others.
A Blaze In The Northern Sky - A Punch In the face, fast and burtal.
Under A Funeral Moon - The Creavtive Album (Ill Get Into It Below
Transilvanian Hunger - The "Popular" Album And The Most Flowing (Despite it's lack of varity)
Panzurfaust - The slower softer album (and my favoirte aloutgh musically A Blaze is the best)
Now To The Actual CD Review

The CD is quite creative the first track is more creative then most black metal songs, its not about satan and killing it's more about greif and sorrow with a meaning, the next 2 tracks are good but dont stand out, unholy black metal is unique seems quite like a guide to black metal and what it stands for, next track is like 2 & 3 under a funeral moon is by far my favoire track on the album very epic id descibe it but you need to hear it for yourself, the other 2 tracksa are alright.
If your a darkthrone fan this is a mustb have and a good place to start comparared to there other releases

I'd love to write a lengthy review on this totally amazing album, but words simply won't do this album any justice whatsoever, so i'll keep this simple and short : Darkthrone ''Under a..'' = The pure essence of black metal, the pinnacle of black metal, the epitome , etc etc. This is quite possibly the best BM album ever recorded. The guitars/bass/drums/vocals, song structures, etc are just so ... sick and evil!! BUY!!

If you like your black metal raw, grim, and primitive than you already know Darkthrone is the best at what they do. Darkthrone is True Norwegian Black Metal and they are quite possibly one of the most extreme bands in metal. This classic black metal CD proves why black metal is so great. The song "To Walk the Infernal Fields" is one of the better black metal songs I have heard. If you are a true black metal fan you know this album as well as all of Darkthrone's albums rule. Other Good Black Metal Bands: Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Marduk, Dark Funeral.

This album defines what black metal means. If you are into dark and evil sounds go out and buy this now. You won't regret it.

Being one of my favorite cds of all time,I found myself obligated to write a brief review. Darkthone have the ability to conjure pure audible evil.The lyrics are compelling,sinister & full of emotion. Drummer & Vocalist Fenriz can tear your soul through your chest w/ his seething delivery(...or devilry..)Don't miss this True Norwegian Black Metal classic!!

As usual, Dark Funeral freezes us with fright in the brutal, totally godless masterpiece. Only 500 copies created, this CD is a must for any collector or Black Metal fan! Get it now if you're black metal!