Satyricon: Dark Medieval Times (1993)

Satyricon’s 1993 masterpiece, “Dark Medieval Times”, conjures an unforgettable atmosphere. Raw black metal ferocity clashes with haunting acoustic interludes and flute passages, transporting listeners to a desolate medieval landscape shrouded in mystery.

Track Listing

  1. Walk the Path of Sorrow
  2. Dark Medieval Times
  3. Skyggedans
  4. Min hyllest til vinterland (My Tribute to Winterland)
  5. Into the Mighty Forest
  6. The Dark Castle in the Deep Forest
  7. Taakeslottet (The Fog Castle)

Length: 43:27

Genre

Black metal

Release Date

October 25th, 1993

Record Label

Moonfog Productions

The Lineup for the Album

  • Satyr (Sigurd Wongraven) – vocals, guitar and bass guitar
  • Frost (Kjetil-Vidar Haraldstad) – drums
  • Lemarchand (Håvard Jørgensen) – guitars (uncredited)

Recording Date

August – September, 1993

Recording Studio

Nesodden Musikkverksted (Nesodden, Norway)

Produced by

Satyr (Sigurd Wongraven)

Album Themes/Concept

Medieval Atmosphere: The album’s title, lyrics, and song structures heavily evoke images of medieval times, forests, castles, and a sense of ancient mystery.

Norwegian Identity: Strong references to Norse landscapes, winters, and a feeling of national pride and connection to Norway’s past.

Darkness and Sorrow: A melancholic, introspective atmosphere permeates the album alongside its aggressive passages. The title, lyrics, and instrumental moments create a sense of darkness and solitude.

Nature: Descriptions of forests, mountains, and the harshness of winter reflect a connection to the natural world, and potential pagan themes.

Album Mood

Atmospheric: Haunting melodies, acoustic passages, and raw production create a powerful sense of place and time.

Melancholic: A deep undercurrent of sadness, loneliness, and reflection runs through the album.
Aggressive: Moments of blasting drums and harsh vocals provide bursts of traditional black metal intensity.

Majestic: There’s a sense of pride, grandeur, and epic scale within the album’s most powerful tracks.

Mysterious: The medieval imagery, whispered passages, and use of folk instrumentation contribute to a feeling of otherworldly darkness.

Album Trivia

Lo-Fi Origins: The album is known for its raw, almost demo-like sound quality. This was partly due to budget limitations and a desire to create a primitive, untamed atmosphere.

Lo-Fi Classic: Like many early black metal albums, the raw production adds to the atmosphere. Satyr aimed for a primitive, cold sound intentionally.

Folk Influence: The album features traditional flute and acoustic guitar interludes, adding a unique, folk-inspired texture to the black metal sound.

Guest Musicians: While primarily the work of Satyr and Frost, Dark Medieval Times features guest performances by members of Emperor (Samoth) and Thorns (Torden) for additional guitar work.

Limited Pressing: The original vinyl pressing was quite limited and has become a sought-after collector’s item over time.

Release Date

October 25, 1993