1.  Kathaarian Life Code  10:39    Show lyrics
2.  In the Shadow of the Horns  07:02    Show lyrics
3.  Paragon Belial  05:25    Show lyrics
4.  Where Cold Winds Blow  07:26    Show lyrics
5.  Blaze in the Northern Sky  04:58    Show lyrics
6.  The Pagan Winter  06:35    Show lyrics

Band members
Nocturno Culto  Vocals (lead), Guitars (lead)
Zephyrous  Guitars (rhythm)
Fenriz  [bad word]  Vocals (spoken lines, intro), Lyrics
Guest/Session
Dag Nilsen  Bass
Miscellaneous staff
Erik Avnskog  Engineering
Zephyrous  Cover model
Dave Pybus  Layout
Nimbus  Mastering
Tomas Lindberg  Logo 

The beginning of Darkthrone's black metal material.

After recording his parts for the album, bassist Dag Nilsen left the band.

The person who appears on the front cover is Zephyrous.

In an interview, Fenriz said that the album was somewhat [bad word] , in order [bad word] to contract clauses with their record label, Peaceville. He also noted that many of the songs feature "death metal guitar riffs" simply played in a "black metal style".

First press 1992 (VILE 28 CD): white disc (limited to 3000 copies). Second press 1992 (VILE 28 CD): Black disc. Third press with Music for Nations with number CDVILE 28, then with Snapper Music.

Reissued and remastered in 2003 as a digipak featuring a video interview clip.

The remastered CD version 2003 was also released in 2007 by Black Metal Attack Records from Brazil for South America.

Bootlegs of the original version exist with a low print quality as well as leaving out some sentences.

All the releases of "Blaze in the Northern Sky" have a note saying "This album is eternally dedicated to the king of death/black metal Euronymous."

The first song on the album, "Kathaarian Life Code", is featured in the last scene of the 2002 film Demonlover.

Re-released in December 2009 on 180g heavyweight vinyl with gatefold sleeve. Features new liner notes written by Nocturno Culto especially for this release. Limited to 1000 copies.

12" LP re-released by Peaceville Records in 2011. This vinyl edition of the album is limited to 2000 numbered copies and is issued on 180gsm heavyweight vinyl in a gatefold sleeve which features new liner notes written by Nocturno Culto especially for this release.

20-year anniversary edition CD released at the end of 2012 by Peaceville [bad word] in a digibook with liner notes by Fenriz and Nocturno Culto plus rare images. [bad word] with an additional disc with the whole [bad word] by Fenriz and Nocturno Culto and the video-interview from the 2003 edition.

Recording information:

Recorded at Creative Studios, August 1991, but released in the beginning of 1992.