Alongside contemporaries Dissection and Marduk,
DARK FUNERAL are among the most important Swedish black metal bands
ever. In fact, when one merely mentions the phrase “Swedish black
metal,” thoughts immediately turn to their name: since their formation
in 1993, DARK FUNERAL quickly came to define the shocking sound of
cryogenic melody and cruelly blasting fury. Though their six albums to
date have been patiently parceled out over a considerable amount of
time, their works endure to this day and have influenced countless bands
over the past 20 years.
Originally released in early 1996 on
the pivotal No Fashion label, DARK FUNERAL's debut album,The Secrets of
the Black Arts, was an incredibly powerful first full-length statement.
From its iconic cover art on down to the sharp, powerful production by
Peter Tägtren at Abyss Studios, it could be easily argued thatThe
Secrets of the Black Arts was THE defining record of '96, when black
metal was climbing out of its sensational days and etching a new
language into the wider metal landscape. DARK FUNERAL were there, armed
with an arsenal that was shockingly fast yet still exceptionally
memorable. Even with all that blastbeaten aggression, there still
existed a wealth of atmosphere to the album, proving that the band were
no one-trick ponies.
At long last, OSMOSE will do DARK FUNERAL's
back catalog justice with the first of many reissues. This version
ofThe Secrets of the Black Arts will come comes with a Poster of this
iconic cover art!
Reprint, 500x ice clear black 12" (180g) in a
black poly-lined innerbag, poster 60x60mm, gatefold jacket with black
flood inside, 350g, all assembled in a pvc overbag.