Darkthrone is a Norwegian metal band from Kolbotn, Akershus. Formed in 1986… Read Full Bio ↴Darkthrone is a Norwegian metal band from Kolbotn, Akershus. Formed in 1986 as a death metal band named Black Death, in 1991 Darkthrone embraced a black metal style influenced by Bathory and Celtic Frost 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 (1992), Under a Funeral Moon (1993) and Transilvanian Hunger (1994) are sometimes dubbed the "Unholy Trinity". They are considered the peak of the band's career and to be among the most influential albums in black metal.

Darkthrone has been a duo of Fenriz and Nocturno Culto since guitarist Zephyrous left the band in 1993. They have sought to remain outside the music mainstream. From 2006, their music strayed from the traditional black metal style and incorporated more elements of traditional heavy metal, punk, and speed metal, while more recent albums have also included doom metal.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkthrone

Studio albums
Soulside Journey (1990)
A Blaze in the Northern Sky (1991)
Under a Funeral Moon (1993)
Transilvanian Hunger (1994)
Panzerfaust (1995)
Goatlord (1996)
Total Death (1996)
Ravishing Grimness (1999)
Plaguewielder (2001)
Hate Them (2003)
Sardonic Wrath (2004)
The Cult Is Alive (2006)
F.O.A.D. (2007)
Dark Thrones and Black Flags (2008)
Circle the Wagons (2010)
The Underground Resistance (2013)
Arctic Thunder (2016)
Old Star (2019)
Eternal Hails...... (2021)
Astral Fortress (2022)

Underdogs and Overlords
Darkthrone Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Revel in the glory of system failure
when arrogance marries power
conceal with the cloak of philantropie
let the stinking dogs lie

Evil takes all side
fast and untouchable
true, hard, raw and crusty

UNDERDOGS AND OVERLORDS

paa betryggende avstand av lysende itelleld
taafengt tro paa dine KRISTNE AVGUDER
hvert eneste fraial far bomeroens taake
hardhjerta rikosjetter i ditt tvijende sinn

SMIDD AV HAT
LENKET TIL GRIMHET

true, hard, raw and crusty
UNDERDOGS AND OVERLORDS

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Darkthrone's song "Underdogs and Overlords" are a commentary on the corrupt nature of society and its power structures. The opening lines urge the listener to embrace the failure of the system, celebrating the downfall of those who wield their power with arrogance. The following lines reference the deception often employed by those in power, who cloak themselves in philanthropy while beneath the surface they exhibit cruelty and disregard for others.

The chorus of the song asserts the power of evil, which is described as fast and untouchable. The lyrics contrast this with ideals of truth, hardness, rawness and crustiness, suggesting that those who embody these traits are the true underdogs and overlords. The second verse is sung in Norwegian, describing a distance from the light and belief in Christian idols, with every breath bringing the fog of deception and malicious thoughts.

Overall, the song reflects a rejection of authority and traditional values, urging listeners to embrace a more raw and authentic existence.

Line by Line Meaning

Revel in the glory of system failure
Take pleasure in the downfall of corrupt systems

when arrogance marries power
When those in power become too prideful and corrupt

conceal with the cloak of philantropie
Covering up one's own selfish actions by posing as a philanthropist

let the stinking dogs lie
Leave the deceitful and untrustworthy people be

Evil takes all side
Evil is present on all sides in a given situation

fast and untouchable
Evil often goes unpunished or unchecked

true, hard, raw and crusty
Authentic and unpolished

UNDERDOGS AND OVERLORDS
Those who are oppressed and those who hold power

paa betryggende avstand av lysende itelleld
At a safe distance from the glowing, fiery inferno

taafengt tro paa dine KRISTNE AVGUDER
Blindly believing in your Christian idols