Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band hailing from Kolbotn, Akershus. Formed in 1986 as a death metal band named Black Death, in 1991, Darkthrone transitioned to a black metal style influenced by Bathory and Celtic Frost and emerged as 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 frequently referred to as the "Unholy Trinity." These albums are regarded as the pinnacle of the band's career and among the most influential releases in the black metal genre.

Darkthrone has been a duo consisting of Fenriz and Nocturno Culto since guitarist Zephyrous departed from the band in 1993. While they have aimed to remain outside the mainstream music scene, in recent years they have collaborated with the National Library of Norway for exhibitions focused on Norwegian cultural history and black metal. Since 2006, Darkthrone's music has diverged from traditional black metal, incorporating more elements of classic heavy metal, punk, and speed metal, while their more recent albums have also incorporated elements of doom metal.