Aura Noir

Aura Noir is widely considered the definitive 'blackened thrash' band, bridging the gap between the first wave of black metal (Venom, Bathory) and the 1980s Teutonic thrash scene (Sodom, Kreator). Formed in 1993 by multi-instrumentalists Apollyon and Aggressor, the band emerged as a reaction against the increasingly polished and keyboard-heavy direction of the second wave of Norwegian black metal.

Their sound is characterized by high-tempo d-beats, chromatic riffing, and a raw vocal delivery that eschews the high-pitched shriek for a more traditional thrash rasp. The inclusion of Blasphemer (ex-Mayhem) further solidified their technical pedigree. Despite a catastrophic accident in 2005 that left Aggressor partially paralyzed, the band maintained their uncompromising aesthetic, continuing to record and perform. They occupy a unique space as 'musician's musicians' within the extreme metal underground, frequently collaborating with members of Darkthrone and Autopsy. Their critical legacy rests on their ability to maintain the 'ugly' spirit of underground metal while executing complex, high-speed arrangements with punk-inflected energy.