Before THE KOVENANT morphed into a full on industrial band, they were COVENANT. Back in 1997, the band made their debut with In Times Before the Light. The album was a very cool symphonic and atmospheric style of Norwegian black metal. Dark and mysterious, lush synthesizers played a large role in creating its signature sound that would later be expanded upon by DIMMU BORGIR, who Nagash was a member of for a few years.

This release is quite rare to find and is definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of Norwegian black metal. It should also be noted that THE KOVENANT re-recorded the album in their present industrial musical style. Who knows why. We just know they shouldn’t have done so.

Check out “From the Storm of the Shadows”: