Editing Bal-Sagoth (section)

===First Trilogy (1994–1999)===

The band entered Academy Music Studio in June 1994 and recorded their debut album, ''[[A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria]]'', in just two weeks. Due to label problems, the album was shelved for nearly a year, finally seeing the light of day in 1995. The album showcased more traditional [[black metal]]/[[death metal]] ideas versus the more epic and sprawling arrangements the group would utilize in later works. The vocal style of [[Byron Roberts]] is also different from later efforts, using more traditional [[death metal]] and black metal grunts, as well as the spoken narrative passages which would become more prevalent on subsequent albums.

In 1996, Bal-Sagoth released ''[[Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule]]'', again recorded at Academy Music Studio in England. The album marked a key shift in the band's sound,{{opinion|date=August 2012}} now focusing more on the composition and arrangement skills of drummer (and studio keyboard player) Jonny Maudling,{{opinion|date=August 2012}} as well as the "storytelling" aspect of [[Byron Roberts]]'s spoken-word vocals. Through keyboards, the band incorporated a virtual symphony orchestra as an equal fifth instrument, along with guitar, bass, drums and vocals. This new sound would be expanded and explored on all four of the band's later efforts.

Joined by touring keyboardist Leon Forrest and bassist Alistair MacLatchy, who had in fact been an original member of the band in its very earliest incarnation, Bal-Sagoth teamed up with [[Dark Funeral]] and [[Ancient (band)|Ancient]] in March 1997 for the "Starfire Engulfs Europe Tour" (AKA the "Satanic War Tour II"), a 23-date trek through Europe, followed by the second leg in October 1997 with the [[black metal]] band [[Emperor (Norwegian band)|Emperor]] and thrash metal outfit [[Nocturnal Breed]].

Bal-Sagoth spent much of 1997 writing and recording what would become the album ''[[Battle Magic]]''.  Again recorded at Academy Music Studio in England, this time the band were afforded nearly a full month to record the album. Released in March 1998, ''Battle Magic'' caught the attention of [[Nuclear Blast]] records, who subsequently signed Bal-Sagoth to a three-album deal with worldwide distribution (a first for the band).

Rather than tour in support of ''Battle Magic'', the band opted to immediately focus on the writing and recording of their Nuclear Blast debut.  Frustrated with fill-in tour keyboard players, Jonny Maudling decided to focus full-time on composition and live keyboards in 1999, handing drum duties over to [[Dave Mackintosh]] (later of [[DragonForce]]).