Legion del Metal

16/1/12

Aura Noir


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
  1. The Rape
  2. Forlorn Blessing to the Dreamking
  3. Dreams Like Deserts
  4. Angel Ripper
  5. Snake
  6. 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
  1. Sons of Hades
  2. Conqueror
  3. Caged Wrath
  4. Wretched Face of Evil
  5. Black Thrash Attack
  6. The Pest
  7. The One Who Smite
  8. Eternally Your Shadow
  9. Destructor
  10. Fighting for Hell
  11. Heaven's on Fire - Venom cover (LP bonus track) 


Live Nightmare on Elm Street
Tracts

  1. Black Thrash Attack
  2. Sons of Hades
  3. Dreams Like Deserts
  4. The One Who Smite
  5. The Rape
  6. Caged Wrath
  7. Heavens on Fire
  8. Conqueror
  9. Angel Ripper
  10. Wretched Face of Evil
  11. Mirage
  12. The Pest
  13. Fighting for Hell
  14. 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

  1. Deep Tracts of Hell
  2. Released Demnation
  3. Swarm of Vultures
  4. Blood Unity
  5. Slasher
  6. Purification of Hell
  7. The Spiral Scar
  8. The Beautiful, Darkest Path
  9. Broth of Oblivion
  10. 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
  1. Mirage 
  2. Tower of Limbs and Fevers 
  3. Released Damnation
  4. Broth of Oblivion
  5. Swarm of Vultures
  6. The One Who Smite
  7. Wretched Face of Evil
  8. Fighting For Hell
  9. The Rape
  10. Forlorn Blessing to the Dreamking
  11. Dreams Like Deserts
  12. Angel Ripper
  13. Snake
  14. Mirage
  15. Tower of Limbs and Fevers


The Merciless

Tracts
  1. Upon the Dark Throne
  2. Condor
  3. Black Metal Jaw
  4. Hell's Fire mp3
  5. 05 Black Deluge Night
  6. Funeral Thrash
  7. Sordid
  8. Merciless


Deep Dreams of Hell
Tracts



  1. Deep Tracts of Hell
  2. Released Damnation
  3. Swarm of Vultures
  4. Blood Unity
  5. Slasher
  6. Purification of Hell
  7. The Spiral Scar
  8. The Beautiful, Darkest Path
  9. Broth of Oblivion
  10. To Wear The mark
  11. The Rape
  12. Forlorn Blessings to the Dreamking
  13. Dreams Like Deserts
  14. Angel Ripper
  15. Snake
  16. Mirage
  17. Released Damnation
  18. Broth of Oblivion
  19. Tower of Limbs and Fevers
  20. Mirage


Hades Rise
Tracts
  1. Hades Rise
  2. Gaping Grave Awaits
  3. Unleash The Demon
  4. Pestilent Streams
  5. Schitzoid Paranoid
  6. Death-Mask
  7. Shadows Of Death
  8. Iron Night / Torment Storm
  9. South American Death
  10. The Stalker

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