BAL SAGOTH (--1996--) Starfire Burning Upont The Ice

In 1996, Bal-Sagoth released Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule, again recorded at Academy Music Studio in England. The album marked a key shift in the band's sound,^[opinion]now focusing more on the composition and arrangement skills of drummer (and studio keyboard player) Jonny Maudling,^[opinion] as well as the "storytelling" aspect of Byron Roberts's spoken-word vocals. Through keyboards, the band incorporated a virtual symphony orchestra as an equal fifth instrument, along with guitar, bass, drums and vocals. This new sound would be expanded and explored on all four of the band's later efforts.

[[tracks]]

1.Interactive CD-ROM track (not available)

2.Black Dragons Soar Above The Mountain of Shadows

3.To Dethrone The Witch-Queen of Mytos K'unn (The Legend of The Battle of Blackhelm Vale)

4.As The Vortex Illuminates The Crystalline Walls Of Kor-Avul-Thaa

5.Starfire Burning Upon The Ice-Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule

6.Journey To the Isle Of Mists (Over The Moonless Depths of Night-Dark Seas)

7.The Splendour of a Thousand Swords Gleaming Beneath The Blazon of the Hyperborean Empire

8.And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud The Citadel of the Obsidian Crown

9.Summoning The Guardians of the Astral Gate

10.In the Raven-Haunted Forests of Darkenhold, Where Shadows Reign And the Hues Sunlight Never Dance

11.At The Altar of the Dreaming Gods (Epilogue)

Home-Page: http://www.bal-sagoth.com/

BAL SAGOTH (--1995--) A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria

Bal-Sagoth is a symphonic black metal band from Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, formed in 1989.

Originally formed as an epic/symphonic black metal band with strong death metal elements, vocalist/lyricist Byron Roberts took the name 'Bal-Sagoth' from the Robert E. Howard short story "The Gods of Bal-Sagoth". Their first demo was recorded in 1993, and Bal-Sagoth have since released three albums on Cacophonous Records, and three with Nuclear Blast. The band entered Academy Music Studio in June 1994 and recorded their debut album, A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria, in just two weeks. Due to label problems, the album was shelved for nearly a year, finally seeing the light of day in 1995. The album showcased more traditional black metal/death metal ideas, and fewer symphonic elements. The vocal style of Byron Roberts is also slightly different from later efforts, using more traditional death metal and black metal grunts, as well as the spoken narrative passages which would become more prevalent on subsequent albums.

[[tracks]]
1.Hatheg Kla
2.Dreaming of Atlantean Spires
3.Spellcraft & Moonfire (Beyond the Citadel Of Frosts)
4.A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria
5.Enthroned In The Temple Of the Serpent Kings
6.Shadows 'Neath the Black Pyrammid
7.Witch-Storm
8.The Ravening
9.Into The Silent Chambers of the Sapphirean Throne (Sagas from The Antediluvian Scrolls)
10.Valle of Silent Paths

Home-Page: http://www.bal-sagoth.com/V7/index.html