Isengard

Isengard is known primarily as the one-man black/folk metal band by Fenriz from Darkthrone.  Thing is, Isengard was black metal before Darkthrone was.  In 1989, when Isengard's first demo came out (Spectres Over Gorgoroth), Darkthrone was still a death metal band.  Fenriz has admitted in interviews that he created Isengard as an outlet for music that was decidedly different from Darkthrone.  Unlike old Darkthrone, Isengard clearly had strong black metal elements, such as the vocals and a more blackened guitar tone.  There are still death metal elements, but compared to what Darkthrone was doing in this time period, it was much more black metal.

"Dark Lord of Gorgoroth" is from the first demo, 1989's Spectres Over Gorgoroth

With the 1991 demo Horizons, the sound veered away from death metal and more toward black metal than the previous demo.  Folk elements began to make their way into the music as well.  This folk/black metal mix is more or less what Isengard is known for these days.  The 1993 demo Vandreren was a continuation in this blackened folk style.

The song "Vinterskugge" is off of the '93 demo Vandreren

In 1994, the demo material was collected as the album Vinterskugge.  This was followed by a new album the next year, Høstmørke.  On this album, the folk element was even more prominent.  This led to an album that had a schizophrenic feel to it.  Some songs were folk rock with black metal influence, some were black metal songs with folk elements to it.

An example of the blackened folk of the Høstmørke album 

Fenriz discontinued Isengard after Høstmørke.  The two albums were re-released a few years ago (2007, I think) with Fenriz's own commentary on them.  For any obsessive fan of black metal, that might be a worthwhile purchase.

Select Discography:

Spectres Over Gorgoroth (demo) (1989)

Horizons (demo) (1991)

Vandreren (demo) (1993)

Høstmørke (full-length) (1995)

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