The ultimate collection of classic unholy black metal from Norway's favourite sons featuring rare and unreleased tracks. Over 70 minutes of pure blasphemous mayhem. 2000 release in a limited digipak.
The ultimate collection of classic unholy black metal from Norway's favourite sons featuring rare and unreleased tracks. Over 70 minutes of pure blasphemous mayhem. 2000 release in a limited digipak.
"... I like Darkthrone purely for their black metal releases, so this album disappointed me. I'd say 70% of this album is early death metal work (from their demos, soulside journey, and some live stuff) the rest is from their other releases (A Blaze in the Northern Sky, Transylvanian Hunger, and Under a Funeral Moon). There are 2 unreleased tracks (Neptune Towers and Iconoclasm Sweeps Cappadoria) but they are also Darkthrone's early death metal work. This album is not for fans out there that like Darkthrone for their black metal work. Personally, it would be much more worth it to buy the individual black metal albums by them instead of buying this cd. BUT if you're into Darkthrone for their early death metal work then this is the choice for you. Hope this helped (or warned) some people."
Good music - terrible recordings
HallofGods | Edgewater, NJ United States | 02/25/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I am sure everyone will agree that Darkthrone's finest compositions are included here. However, the most annoying thing is production. While we can get used to listening to a badly produced CD to feel more evil (HA!),getting used to songs from 4 differently produced albums really reduces the entertainment value. In fact, it becomes outright annoying to keep adjusting your stereo to different production levels. This is what reduces the rating from 5 stars (for songs) to 3 stars (for extremely annoying production).I would give this a miss and just go for all of darkthrone's albums instead and listen to them individually."
Excellent Collection
Ingvar | Stockholm, Sweden | 10/03/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Darkthrone's compilation "Preparing For War" is great and worth to buy, because it has Darkthrone's best songs including some early rare ones. The production is not the best, but who cares the production? I don't understand some mentally deranged people who demand digital production from Darkthrone. Instead, this album with its bad production is the greatest thing. I recommend it to get. Even you have Darkthrone's albums, this compilation must be bought.Note that this compilation was released by Peaceville Records, Darkthrone's previous label. So "Preparing For War" has tracks from those albums that have been released by Peaceville. Even so, it's great and majestic. I revere in awe before Darkthrone. Fenriz & Nocturno Culto are the greatest evil that one could imagine. "Preparing For War" is a masterpiece among compilations."
Excellent and mysterious
Patrick | raleigh, New Caledonia | 07/07/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With MTV, VH1 and the Internet providing me with every last tidbit of knowledge about the lives of American music artists in recent years, I must say that my interest in rock-n-roll has finally waned. I've come to believe that the key to truly great music is mystery; the best albums are the ones that leave me confused about an artists' message and musical intentions. It was almost 20 years ago that I first got into music, and despite coverage from Rolling Stone, I had nothing but my own imagination to go on. Times have changed, sadly...That said, Darkthrone has helped to fill this void with some of the spookiest, grittiest, impossibly abrasive metal music I have ever heard. I was baffled by them, wondering why these men from Norway would create such sounds, being that there is absolutley zero percent chance of commercial success in the States, let alone any kind of mass underground following. This is loner music, kids. They never tour, don't do much press...you have nothing but your imagination and some of the best Black Metal ever to fuel your dark thoughts.This compilation spans their amazing career. Get it, and you will have yourself a DIY treat!"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1
