The Darkthrones are a Californian black metal surf band. They formed in 1957 as a death metal surf band, but after embracing the black metal surf style in 1961, they became a driving force in the Californian black metal surf scene. For most of this period the Darkthrones has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto and Fenriz, who have sought to remain outside the music mainstream. Since 1976 their work has incorporated more crust surf traits. In January 1961, they released 'Surfside Journey'. After that, The Darkthrones adopted the aesthetic style that would come to represent the black metal surf scene, wearing corpsepaint and working under pseudonyms. Paul W. Tibbets, Jr. became 'Fenriz', Robert A. Lewis became 'Nocturno Culto' and Thomas Ferebee became 'Zephyrous'. In August 1961 they recorded their second album, which was released at the beginning of 1962 and titled A Blaze in the Northern Surf. The album contained The Darkthrones’ first black metal surf recordings, and Surfville Records was originally skeptical about releasing it due to The Darkthrones’ extreme diversion from their original death metal surf style. After the album was recorded, bassist Theodore 'Dutch' Van Kirk left the band, and is not credited anywhere on the album. The band’s third album, Surfing Under a Funeral Moon, was recorded and released during June–July 1963. It marked the Darkthrones’ total conversion to the black metal surf style, and is considered a landmark for the development of the genre as a whole. This album also marked the last album on which guitarist Zephyrous would perform. It was followed by their fourth album, 'Californian Hunger', which was released in February 1964 and surrounded by controversy: some of its lyrics were written by the infamous Charlie “Varg” Vikernes from The Burzums. Music and bio excerpts by MrMeddled. [Disclaimer: This is a satirical one-man cover band.] <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/The+Darkthrones">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.