On April 6th, 1996, DARKTHRONE performed their final show at the Rockefeller Music Hall in Norway. The band has release 14 records since then but have refused play live again. When interviewed by Wall of Sound, guitarist Nocturno Culto said that there have been many opportunities for the band to become wealthy — but they’ve turned them all down.
“The offers keep on coming, believe me. We have said no to being wealthy for years and years,” he explains. “I believe DARKTHRONE is kind of isolated in many areas, but we like it that way. We don’t see ourselves as something else other than ordinary men with a passion for music. So stage, touring and personal attention is not what we seek, but what we want to leave behind…..yes you guessed it, full length albums. A Blaze in the Northern Sky was originally meant to be a mini album, but luckily we discussed it, and agreed on taking our time to make an LP.”
Culto also spoke against the idea that full-length albums will soon be a thing of the past. “I do not agree at all with the premise of this question, because the next generation will understand the importance of full length albums. People NEED full length albums. And the youth is smart enough to understand and appreciate the format. It will live on as long as there is music. Especially in rock/metal genres, people want this format, for all eternity.”
DARKTHRONE‘s 19th studio album, Astral Fortress, was released on October 28th via Peaceville Records.
