Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule
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Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule is Bal-Sagoth
's second full-length album, released in November 1996 through Cacophonous Records. This was the last album to feature Jason Porter on bass guitar, as he was replaced by Alistair MacLatchy in December 1996. As with the first album, the band only had around two weeks to record this album. They had major problems with recording the album: the temperature in the recording studio was so consistently high that the recording equipment broke down several times; and the record company, Cacophonous Records, refused to pay for new tape reels to record on, so the band had to actually record over the first album.
In the song titled "And Lo, When the Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud the Citadel of the Obsidian Crown", a strong synthesizer melody begins at 4:17. This melody is a variation upon the melody heard in the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian
during the scene inside Thulsa Doom
's stronghold, composed by Basil Poledouris
.
Again from the score of Conan the Barbarian, at 00:37 in the track "Recovery", the theme seems to be faithfully adapted by Bal-Sagoth in the track "In the Raven-Haunted Forests of Darkenhold, Where Shadows Reign and the Hues of Sunlight Never Dance" at 2:02.
The band explains their inspiration came mainly from John Williams and Basil Poledouris' scores amongst others, maybe as a tribute.
Bal-Sagoth
Bal-Sagoth is a symphonic black metal band from Yorkshire, England, formed in 1993.Originally formed as an epic/symphonic black metal band with strong death metal elements, vocalist/lyricist Byron Roberts took the name 'Bal-Sagoth' from the Robert E. Howard short story "The Gods of Bal-Sagoth"...
's second full-length album, released in November 1996 through Cacophonous Records. This was the last album to feature Jason Porter on bass guitar, as he was replaced by Alistair MacLatchy in December 1996. As with the first album, the band only had around two weeks to record this album. They had major problems with recording the album: the temperature in the recording studio was so consistently high that the recording equipment broke down several times; and the record company, Cacophonous Records, refused to pay for new tape reels to record on, so the band had to actually record over the first album.
In the song titled "And Lo, When the Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud the Citadel of the Obsidian Crown", a strong synthesizer melody begins at 4:17. This melody is a variation upon the melody heard in the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
during the scene inside Thulsa Doom
Thulsa Doom
Thulsa Doom may refer to:* Thulsa Doom , a character created by Robert E. Howard* Thulsa Doom , a Norwegian stoner rock band* Thulsa Doom , an album by Reverend Bizarre...
's stronghold, composed by Basil Poledouris
Basil Poledouris
Vassilis Konstantinos "Basil" Poledouris was a Greek-American music composer who concentrated on the scores for films and television shows...
.
Again from the score of Conan the Barbarian, at 00:37 in the track "Recovery", the theme seems to be faithfully adapted by Bal-Sagoth in the track "In the Raven-Haunted Forests of Darkenhold, Where Shadows Reign and the Hues of Sunlight Never Dance" at 2:02.
The band explains their inspiration came mainly from John Williams and Basil Poledouris' scores amongst others, maybe as a tribute.
Track listing
- All Tracks Written By Byron RobertsByron RobertsByron Roberts, also known as Byron A. Roberts, is the vocalist/lyricist and founder of the British symphonic extreme metal band Bal-Sagoth.Originally hailing from Yorkshire, England, and also holding full Canadian citizenship, due to many years spent living in Ontario and Quebec, Roberts graduated...
, Jonny MaudlingJonny MaudlingJonny Maudling is an English composer, keyboard player and former drummer for the band Bal-Sagoth. Maudling's primary instruments are Roland synthesizers when playing live. He comes from a musical family and was classically trained on piano from an early age...
& Chris Maudling.
- "Black Dragons Soar above the Mountain of Shadows (Prologue)" – 3:05
- "To Dethrone the Witch-Queen of Mytos K'unn (The Legend of the Battle of Blackhelm Vale)" – 6:45
- "As the Vortex Illumines the Crystalline Walls of Kor-Avul-Thaa" – 6:35
- "Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule" – 7:23
- "Journey to the Isle of Mists (Over the Moonless Depths of Night-Dark Seas)" – 1:11
- "The Splendour of a Thousand Swords Gleaming Beneath the Blazon of the Hyperborean Empire" – 6:03
- "And Lo, When the Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud the Citadel of the Obsidian Crown" – 6:28
- "Summoning the Guardians of the Astral Gate" – 6:09
- "In the Raven-Haunted Forests of Darkenhold, Where Shadows Reign and the Hues of Sunlight Never Dance" – 6:29
- "At the Altar of the Dreaming Gods (Epilogue)" – 2:29
Personnel
- Byron RobertsByron RobertsByron Roberts, also known as Byron A. Roberts, is the vocalist/lyricist and founder of the British symphonic extreme metal band Bal-Sagoth.Originally hailing from Yorkshire, England, and also holding full Canadian citizenship, due to many years spent living in Ontario and Quebec, Roberts graduated...
- vocals - Chris Maudling - guitar
- Jason Porter - bass guitar
- Jonny MaudlingJonny MaudlingJonny Maudling is an English composer, keyboard player and former drummer for the band Bal-Sagoth. Maudling's primary instruments are Roland synthesizers when playing live. He comes from a musical family and was classically trained on piano from an early age...
- keyboards, drums