Thou Shalt Suffer emerged from the depths of the Norwegian metal scene in 1990, initially known as Dark Device. The group quickly carved a niche for themselves by blending the ferocity of death metal with the emerging aesthetics of black metal, setting them apart with the distinctive addition of keyboard melodies courtesy of Ihsahn. Despite their brief existence, ending in 1991 as members went on to form influential acts like Emperor and Ildjarn, Thou Shalt Suffer left a lasting impact on the extreme metal genre. Their pioneering fusion of styles and atmospheric use of keyboards influenced the evolution of black metal, contributing to the genre's expansion towards more melodic and symphonic dimensions.
