Darkthrone is an influential Norwegian metal band. They formed in 1986 as a death metal band under the name Black Death.[1][2] In 1991 the band embraced a black metal style influenced by Bathory[3] and Celtic Frost[3] and became one of the leading bands in the Norwegian black metal scene. Their first three black metal albums—A Blaze in the Northern Sky, Under a Funeral Moon and Transilvanian Hunger (sometimes dubbed the "Unholy Trinity")[4][5]—are considered to be the peak of the band's career[6] and to be among the most influential albums in the genre. For most of this time Darkthrone has been a duo of Nocturno Culto and Fenriz, who have sought to remain outside the music mainstream.[7] Since 2006, their work has strayed from the traditional black metal style and incorporated more elements of traditional heavy metal, speed metal and punk rock, being likened to Motörhead[7] (although such influences had been present since 1991).[8]