Anatomia NOR: Darkthrone VIII (of IX)

 

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FIFTH ERA – DOOM, BLOODY DOOM
2016-2021

 

17.Arctic Thunder (2016) Running time: 39:25, 8 tracks Before I explain why this is one of Darkthrone's favorite albums, I'd first like to provide some historical context. At this point in their career, the consensus was divided. Some people fell in love with the band anew, many new fans joined the fray, and overall, a wave of renewed popularity emerged. On the other hand, many criticized the band for straying too far from their roots, and the style, for which they were known. Surprisingly enough, despite Fenriz's mocking such stances, it does look like it hurt the band internally, because after a relatively modest few years, the band returned with what could be called, a return to form. But to make things more clear, it's worth stating that this album is in no way reminiscent of DT's early work; quite the opposite, the band is once again trying something new. Despite this, many people (myself included) feel as if the band wanted to make amends with the past and, as it were, clear their minds, so the final result is something that could easily be placed alongside the trilogy and wouldn't be stylistically jarring, even though the band is tackling Doom Metal. And it's okay, because such elements have always been a part of their style, just not with such scope and with this sound. Moreover, we get a very even flow of material, free of fillers (which is rare for these guys), with exceptionally strong riffs and a very serious atmosphere, which, in my opinion, is what made this album stood the test of time and become another bright spot in their career, though not their last. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

18.Old Star (2019) Running time: 38:10, 6 tracks Those who weren't convinced by "Arctic Thunder" were btfo with this album. And while, in my opinion, the previous album ate "Old Star" for breakfast, I'd be lying if I said this work didn't command respect. Once again, we have Doom meets Black Metal, and one could argue about which element is more prevalent, but the fact remains that we get very—yes—well-crafted material. There's no improvisation here like before; there's solid craftsmanship, and perhaps that's also why this is a favorite for many. Honestly, when you listen to Darkthrone's newer albums, you'd be tempted to say that the classic trilogy is crap compared to what the band is doing currently. But out of politeness and the fear that such an opinion would result in massive backlash, nobody says it out loud, even though everyone can feel it in the air. It's honestly unbelievable that it took so many albums, so many years, for the band to achieve such quality. You can hear that Darkthrone is getting better with age, but again, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

19.Eternal Hails (2021) Running time: 42:00, 5 tracks A short break, and Darkthrone struck again. After listening to this album, I must admit I couldn't wait for the next one, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one, as the next album was supposed to be released soon, barely a year later. But let's get to the point. This time, the band finally went all out, creating Doom Metal with some elements of Black Metal (primarily Celtic Frost). Furthermore, keyboards and synths appear on the album for the first time, not as a part of the intro or to create atmosphere, but as an integral part of the song. In fact, it's Darkthrone's longest album to date, because there are no fillers, outros, or other nonsense. Instead, it's 42 minutes of pure music and only five songs—the fewest in the band's history. If this were the band's final album, it would be a paradox, as their debut had 11 tracks, an opposite record for DT. That this is a powerful album is evidenced by the fact that after a month of not listening to it, a short fragment was enough for me to remember everything, and find where everything was, which track, which location, etc. As for the cover, it's similar to the first CD version of "Total Death." You could even say it's a prequel, because there we had a view of the outside, while here, we're inside a cave. I must admit that I am extremely curious what would happen if the band returned to playing Death Metal (at this stage of humankind, only Therion did not return), or tried their hand at Thrash (but it would not work for them, because playing Thrash requires not only strength, but also discipline. "Eternal Hails" generally ends one of the best stages of a career, lasting the same period as the previous ones, i.e. 5 years. NEXT: Eons