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intothewellsabyss
Nov 25, 20222 min read

Bal-Sagoth - Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule (1996)

FROM THE CRYPTS - CELEBRATING PAST ALBUM RELEASES in the HISTORY of HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL…



On November 25, 1996, Bal-Sagoth released their second full-length studio album Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule via Cacophonous Records.


(1996 Cacophonous Records Enhanced Promo Cover)


Background:

Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule, again recorded at Academy Music Studio in England. The album marked a key shift in the band's sound, now focusing more on the composition and arrangement skills of drummer (and studio keyboard player) Jonny Maudling, as well as the "storytelling" aspect of Byron Roberts' spoken-word vocals. Through keyboards, the band incorporated a virtual symphony orchestra as an equal fifth instrument, along with guitar, bass, drums and vocals. This new sound would be expanded and explored on all four of the band's later efforts.



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.



The cover artwork for the album is a painting by the famed artist Joe Petagno, based on a concept by Bal-Sagoth vocalist/lyricist Byron Roberts.



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.



Joined by touring keyboardist Leon Forrest and bassist Alistair MacLatchy, who had in fact been an original member of the band in its very earliest incarnation, Bal-Sagoth teamed up with Dark Funeral and Ancient in March 1997 for the Starfire Engulfs Europe Tour (AKA the Satanic War Tour II), a 23-date trek through Europe, followed by the second leg in October 1997 with the Black Metal band Emperor and Black-Thrash Metal outfit Nocturnal Breed.




On May 13, 2016 the album was re-released by Cacophonous Records as a special edition CD featuring remastered audio, expanded lyric booklet, new sleeve notes and exclusive new artwork.


(2016 Cacophonous Records Re-issue)



Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells



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