Darkthrone
Ravishing Grimness
[Moonfog]
Ah yes, Darkthrone, undoubtedly my favourite band of all time and a wondrous
marvel of extreme music like no other. Throughout the period of 10 or so years,
these elder druids have single-handedly shaped much of black metal, spawned a
host of naïve pretenders to the throne and yet still kept ahead of their imitators,
leaving them choking in the dust.
I really shouldn’t even be introducing Darkthrone to you right now, seeing as how if you don’t own either UNDER A FUNERAL MOON or A BLAZE IN THE NORTHERN SKY in the first place you shouldn’t be soiling this magazine with your grubby hands. Begone, poser!
Now for those of you who are worthy enough to continue reading this review, let it be known that this album was a rather shocking blow to an ardent Darkthrone fanatic. Much of the initial necro-atmosphere has been lost, which perhaps denotes a more mature edge ala new Immortal? In its place is a cleaner, more polished sound, sparkling with a warmer guitar sound and more pronounced percussives and vocal malice.
Granted, the song-writing skills have been enhanced to new levels ie Claws Of Time, which is undoubtedly up there with The Pagan Winter and the ilk, but the truth is this is definitely not the Darkthrone we knew and loved. Many can claim that the old Darkthrone is still apparent in small cameos littered here and there over the disc, but THAT WILL NOT DO. Whatever happened to the cardboard box sounding snare drums, the desolate, evil guitar sound, the cracked hate screeches and mournful cries…? GONE I TELL YOU.
Make no mistake, Darkthrone still liquidates the weak and pretentious spleen of the average black metal pretender, but is this really the work of the lords of all things unholy and evil about black metal? I don’t even know why I’m panning this so much when I loved the new Immortal and Emperor discs, both huge departures in their musical fields. I guess it’s because along with Mayhem and Bathory, this is the VERY band I’ve emulated my musical output after and have worshipped faithfully for years. *sigh* The jury is still out.
[7]
© 2000 equimanthorn
I really shouldn’t even be introducing Darkthrone to you right now, seeing as how if you don’t own either UNDER A FUNERAL MOON or A BLAZE IN THE NORTHERN SKY in the first place you shouldn’t be soiling this magazine with your grubby hands. Begone, poser!
Now for those of you who are worthy enough to continue reading this review, let it be known that this album was a rather shocking blow to an ardent Darkthrone fanatic. Much of the initial necro-atmosphere has been lost, which perhaps denotes a more mature edge ala new Immortal? In its place is a cleaner, more polished sound, sparkling with a warmer guitar sound and more pronounced percussives and vocal malice.
Granted, the song-writing skills have been enhanced to new levels ie Claws Of Time, which is undoubtedly up there with The Pagan Winter and the ilk, but the truth is this is definitely not the Darkthrone we knew and loved. Many can claim that the old Darkthrone is still apparent in small cameos littered here and there over the disc, but THAT WILL NOT DO. Whatever happened to the cardboard box sounding snare drums, the desolate, evil guitar sound, the cracked hate screeches and mournful cries…? GONE I TELL YOU.
Make no mistake, Darkthrone still liquidates the weak and pretentious spleen of the average black metal pretender, but is this really the work of the lords of all things unholy and evil about black metal? I don’t even know why I’m panning this so much when I loved the new Immortal and Emperor discs, both huge departures in their musical fields. I guess it’s because along with Mayhem and Bathory, this is the VERY band I’ve emulated my musical output after and have worshipped faithfully for years. *sigh* The jury is still out.
[7]
© 2000 equimanthorn