ALBUM REVIEW: Darkthrone – Old Star

Here I review the brand new album from a band needing no introduction, the Norwegian Black Metal legends, DARKTHRONE! Out May 31st via Peaceville Records!

1. I Muffle Your Inner Choir blasts right in with chiming drum crashes and tearing old school Black Metal riffs, immediately remeniscent of early Darkthrone, abruptly joined by the demonic howling we all know and love. There is a really nice whiplash pace to the rhythm and drum work of the song that is upbeat and fun while some slight melancholy can be detected in the chord progression making for a gorgeous juxtaposition, Darkthrone are no idiots after all. The song itself has a really nice old school production and a feeling of familiarity and comfort within the scorching riffs, blastbeats and raw howls yet with a refreshed and pummelling energy. Nice doomy sections give the song variety and texture, building atmosphere too. This opening track was really killer and set the bar high for the record. Darkthrone are back and on top form! Glorious.
2. The Hardship of the Scots pounds in with tight drum hits and huge 80s guitar riffs, creating a nostalgic wall of pure Heavy Metal that is impossible not to fall in love with. Hearing NWOBHM influence in such a down-to-Earth way suits Darkthrone well with the song having more doomy tinges to it that grow this brooding darkness beautifully, giving the band something to build momentum from. With a cavernous sound that draws on classic Black Sabbath riffing and drum work but with snarling vocals, this piece is really a nice surprise. Some excellent drum work builds things into a nice mid-pace gallop that truly adds to the NWOBHM feel of the song but in a way that is menacing and fuelled by the signature Darkthrone rasp. Bittersweet blistering melancholy and aggressive drive gives such a well-rounded experience throughout the song. Another utterly brilliant track.
3. Old Star falls into rank with more doom-laden guitar riffs and pounding drums accompanied by grisly vocal gurgling. Slowly crawling along with occult soundscapes of fuzzy grooves and true headbanging fuel, the atmospherics of the song are bleak yet empowering to the ear. Fantastic drum fills and monolithic guitars build a wall of morbid fuzz and groove for the maniacal vocals to gorgeously tie together with a truly old school feel throughout once more. Swaying along, this song is anthemic but also feels emotive too, an enjoyable contradiction that shows a band can still be on top of their game even decades into their career within Extreme Metal. Excellent.
4. Alp Man follows up with surprisingly upbeat and melodic guitar riffs, screamed vocals, thunderous bass and hammering drums, all filled with energy and life that blasts out totally classic, catchy material with some of the most fun riffing on the album yet. While the song isn’t light-hearted per se, it is less doomy than the previous tracks with an 80s gallop and nicely intricate instrumental work that does have a more punchy quality too it. Building with militant snares and echoing guitars, the song does touch on the doom side of things but with tons of melody also being present in the primal riff-work that adds soul plentifully. Totally grim vocals are what really bring the instruments to life for me, working perfectly together. The lead guitar harmony was a gorgeous touch too. Another really killer piece.
5. Duke of Gloat grinds out Black Metal warfare with blasting drums and blistering guitar riffs. Grisly vocals and classic Darkthrone scolding guitars over ferocious drum patterns gives off the classic 90s Black Metal feel with an unmistakably reinvigorated approach from a band that basically wrote the original manifesto. This track immediately had this “hell yeah” feeling pounding into my brain that just appealed to me as a fan of all eras of Darkthrone but also being most familiar with their Black Metal material. The song has plenty of nuance and convulsive rhythms that definitely suggest experimentation, giving Black Metal some excellent nourishment with a barrage of mayhem, violence and never letting their claim to the throne of Norwegian Black Metal be overthrown.
6. The Key Is Inside the Wall brings in the finale to this epic war cry. Blasting guitar growls, cavernously thundering drum hits and snarled mania give the slower pace beginning a forceful and powerful start to set the tone for one last epic bout of truly impeccable Heavy Metal. Building nicely to upbeat blackened grooves without missing a beat, the bands ability to transcend through blisteringly hot sections of totally fierce and amazing extremity is impressive beyond any shadow of a doubt. Chugging guitars take us back to the anthemic, slamming opening soundscape of pure old school ecstasy. A powerfully diverse and fun finale to the glory of the album, the swing of this track just makes you want to go crazy. An absolutely marvellous finale, as expected.

Darkthrone for me is a band that never misses the mark of quality while still always evolving. As a fan of all Heavy Metal, it is mind-blowing to me to see a band so effortlessly mix Speed, Death, Doom and Thrash in with their fantastic Black Metal base, but Darkthrone nails it. The duo have put out some of the most impressive material of their career, a must listen for anybody who loves Extreme Metal of any sort! -9/10