Aura Noir (the name was suggested by a friend and is
in true oldschool-fashion a case of bad grammar) started out as a solo-project
of Aggressor in 1995, who at the time was also active in constellations such as
Ved Buens Ende and Infernö. He felt the need of another artistical outlet,
brimming with ideas as he was, and promptly recorded a couple of demos with the
help of Apollyon, who would later join the band full-time. These demos were of
a more avantgarde and experimental nature than what was to come and are much
sought after objects in the underground today. They were perhaps little more
than just the exorcism Aggressor needed for a certain type of demons before he
could let inspiration of an even more devilish kind roam free, transforming
Aura Noir into the penultimate Black Thrash Metal band.
It's been more than five years since the world was
last plagued with the Black Thrash Attack of Aura Noir. 'The Merciless' is
their third full-length and the first for newly founded label Tyrant Syndicate.
It bears all the trademarks of classic Aura Noir - whipping drums, razorsharp
jet-black riffs and the frightening vocal delivery of not one but two snarling
hounds of armageddon - former members and multi-instrumentalists Aggressor and
Apollyon. Completing the infernal trio is Blasphemer of Mayhem fame. 'The
Merciless' is one of those albums that becomes more than "just another
album" - once you've let it invade your deck you'll have a hard time letting
it go. Metal never sounded quite so vicious, not even in 1985. The riffs are of
the kind Sodom and Dark Angel could have written back then, had they actually
given up their souls to the devil. You bet they wish they had...
'Dreams Like Deserts'
was released later that same year and this mini-album featured Aggressor and
Apollyon switching drums and guitar/bass/vocal duties between them on every
other track. This was to become a tradition for the band, both live and on
record. The black and white sleeve depicting the band at a local graveyard,
wielding beer bottles and giving you the finger completed the oldschool imagery
to such an extent you could have sworn you had been taken ten years back in
time. Not to forget the music...
'Black Thrash
Attack', the debut full-length followed a year later and a more apt title has
never graced an album cover. Blasphemer from Mayhem joined the band as a member
on guitars. This was the perfect symbiosis of all the bands' 80s idols; Sodom,
Slayer, Dark Angel to name a few, and their own personal touch, creating a very
distinct sound. This is one of those albums that spawned an entire genre with
its title - Venom's 'Black Metal' is another.
Come '99 and 'Deep
tracts of Hell', the band had broadened their horizon with Voivod and Celtic
Frost rattling in the deeps, making it even more volatile and ugly-sounding
than their previous efforts. This was also the only release the band did as a
duo, with Blasphemer concentrating solely on Mayhem at the time. 'Increased
Damnation' a collection of the first mini-album and nine previously unreleased
live tracks, demos and alternate versions was a stopgap between 'Deep Tracts of
Hell' and 'The Merciless'.
Line Up:
Aggressor - drums, bass, guitars and vocals
Apollyon - drums, bass, guitars and vocals
Blasphemer – guitars
Kristian Valbo - Drums
Dreams Like Deserts
Aura Noir's cult first release!!!
"Dreams Like Deserts", released in 1994 by Hot Records, unleashed the
black thrash attack in the metal underground. Apollyon and Aggressor perform
all instruments. This album was one of the first black-thrash releases ever in
which many bands tried to emulate.
Tracts
- The Rape
- Forlorn Blessing to the Dreamking
- Dreams Like Deserts
- Angel Ripper
- Snake
- Mirage
Black Thrash Attack
Black Thrash Attack was Aura
Noir's first and only release on the German label, Malicious Records (who also
released Dødheimsgard, Vond, Zyklon-B, Mortiis, and Borknagar). The album was
unchained in 1996 and later licensed by Century Media for worldwide
distribution. Blasphemer of Mayhem joined the band for the album, and played
guitar on all tracks. Aura Noir left Malicious Records, due to the fact that
the label were dirty scumbags.
Tracts
- Sons of Hades
- Conqueror
- Caged Wrath
- Wretched Face of Evil
- Black Thrash Attack
- The Pest
- The One Who Smite
- Eternally Your Shadow
- Destructor
- Fighting for Hell
- Heaven's on Fire - Venom
cover (LP bonus track)
Live
Nightmare on Elm Street
Tracts
- Black Thrash Attack
- Sons of Hades
- Dreams Like Deserts
- The One Who Smite
- The Rape
- Caged Wrath
- Heavens on Fire
- Conqueror
- Angel Ripper
- Wretched Face of Evil
- Mirage
- The Pest
- Fighting for Hell
- Forlorn Blessings to the
Dreamlike
Deep Tracts of Hell
Deep Tracts of Hell was Aura
Noir's first album on Hammerheart, which they released in 1998. Only Aggressor
and Apollyon appear as main members, with Sverre Daehlie (Audiopain) playing
guitar on the song "Released Damnation". Blasphemer didnt play due to
the fact that he was touring with Mayhem.
Tracts
- Deep Tracts of Hell
- Released Demnation
- Swarm of Vultures
- Blood Unity
- Slasher
- Purification of Hell
- The Spiral Scar
- The Beautiful, Darkest Path
- Broth of Oblivion
- To Wear the Mark
Increased Damnation
A collection of the Dreams Like
Deserts MCD, unreleased, live, and demo tracks. Features artwork by Lise (Nemi
comic strip, Ved Buens Ende "Written in Waters" album cover).
Tracts
- Mirage
- Tower of Limbs and Fevers
- Released Damnation
- Broth of Oblivion
- Swarm of Vultures
- The One Who Smite
- Wretched Face of Evil
- Fighting For Hell
- The Rape
- Forlorn Blessing to the Dreamking
- Dreams Like Deserts
- Angel Ripper
- Snake
- Mirage
- Tower of Limbs and Fevers
The
Merciless
Tracts
- Upon the Dark Throne
- Condor
- Black Metal Jaw
- Hell's Fire mp3
- 05 Black Deluge Night
- Funeral Thrash
- Sordid
- Merciless
Deep Dreams of Hell
Tracts
- Deep Tracts of Hell
- Released Damnation
- Swarm of Vultures
- Blood Unity
- Slasher
- Purification of Hell
- The Spiral Scar
- The Beautiful, Darkest Path
- Broth of Oblivion
- To Wear The mark
- The Rape
- Forlorn Blessings to the
Dreamking
- Dreams Like Deserts
- Angel Ripper
- Snake
- Mirage
- Released Damnation
- Broth of Oblivion
- Tower of Limbs and Fevers
- Mirage
Hades
Rise
Tracts
- Hades Rise
- Gaping Grave Awaits
- Unleash The Demon
- Pestilent Streams
- Schitzoid Paranoid
- Death-Mask
- Shadows Of Death
- Iron Night / Torment Storm
- South American Death
- The Stalker
Tracklist:
