The production being bad is one of the many perks of black metal haha so that doesn't bother me.
I think that their victory records release had too much of a.... ew gothenburg feel, and i hate hardcore mixed with metal. Suck an ugly sound. At the Gates were the first metal band i ever listend to so they're responsible for the thousands of dollars i've poured into albums since.
You guys can get some live Darkest Hour videos at
www.pheer.com if you want. I figure the ones that live in MD/DC/VA probably knew that but for those of you who didn't.... now you do.