A Blaze In The Northern Sky, Darkthrone's official second album, was originally released in 1992 and was without question the blueprint for the Black Metal scene, spearheading the evolution of the early second wave movement in Norway and beyond. It was hailed on release as an album of true scene- shifting greatness, following their more death metal focussed debut, Soulside Journey. The rawness apparent on the album (recorded at Creative Studios, the same location as Mayhem's legendary Deathcrush was put to tape), was unusual for the time and an antithesis to the usual metal production values and standards during the period. With this, Darkthrone's statement of attitude and intent was clear and their status as masters of Norwegian black metal was set.