Goatlord was written in 1990 as the follow-up to Darkthrone's death metal debut album, Soulside Journey, and was recorded in late 1990 and early 1991 as an instrumental rehearsal tape. The album was scrapped when the band changed style from death metal to black metal in favor of A Blaze in the Northern Sky. Most of the lyrics for Goatlord were written in the autumn of 1990, with some additions in 1994 for the last two songs.
Goatlord was penned in 1990 as the sequel to Darkthrone's initial death metal album, Soulside Journey, and was recorded in late 1990 and early 1991 as an instrumental warm-up tape. The album was abandoned when the band shifted style from death metal to black metal in favor of A Blaze in the Northern Sky. Most of the lyrics for Goatlord were penned in autumn 1990, with some additions in 1994 for the final two tracks.