Originally released in early 1996 on the pivotal No Fashion label, DARK FUNERAL's debut album,The Secrets of the Black Arts, was an incredibly powerful first full-length statement. From its iconic cover art on down to the sharp, powerful production by Peter Tägtren at Abyss Studios, it could be easily argued that The Secrets of the Black Arts was THE defining record of '96, when black metal was climbing out of its sensational days and etching a new language into the wider metal landscape. DARK FUNERAL were there, armed with an arsenal that was shockingly fast yet still exceptionally memorable. Even with all that blast beaten aggression, there still existed a wealth of atmosphere to the album, proving that the band were no one-trick ponies.