Darkthrone struck again.
The cult duo of Norwegian Black Metal – and underground Extreme Metal scene in general – led by Fenriz (drums/guitar/bass, Coffin Storm, ex-Dødheimsgard, ex-Isengard…) and Nocturno Culto (guitar/vocals/bass, Avrak, ex-Sarke, ex-Satyricon) has just released its twenty-second studio album, Pre-Historic Metal, still backed by Peaceville Records.
We kick things off with They Found One Of My Graves, a track that’s been out for a few weeks now, which returns to the roots of abrasive Black Metal while continuing to explore other influences, yet retains that sinister edge as it ventures into Heavy/Thrash territory. We note the catchy hook but also the hint of melancholy before moving on to the title track, Pre-Historic Metal, which surprises us with its contrast between raw aggression and stranger elements, though savagery clearly takes the lead, adding some furious leads. The band follows up with Siberian Thaw, a composition that’s noticeably calmer in its opening moments but offers a different kind of energy with the addition of vocal parts, particularly when the vocalist chants the title before choking off. This leads to a much more ethereal passage before the rhythm section ignites, and then Deeply Rooted offers a much more measured, Heavy/Doom-style pace – a trait that is reinforced in the rather skillfully orchestrated slowdowns, while the jerky acceleration comes as a surprise, unlike The Dry Wells Of Hell, which naturally features a fierce rhythm section. The vocal parts will, of course, be there to offer us a more than unexpected diversity, but the riffs will also eventually do as they please and lead us to I Marched To The Sunken Empire, the shortest track but also by far the most oppressive, while a few ethereal elements strive to make it accessible. Once the instrumental is over, we move on to Eat Eat Eat Your Pride, which immediately picks up steam but reveals a stark contrast between its slow and more aggressive elements, which flow seamlessly into one another as if nothing had happened, ultimately returning to dissonance on Eon 4, the as unsettling as mysterious final track which might suggest a return to their roots, but which merely draws inspiration from them to further develop their new blends.
Now somewhat removed from the more aggressive roots that cemented their legend, Darkthrone revels in its diverse influences, giving Pre-Historic Metal its own unique touch – one that allows the band to do as it pleases, at its own pace.
75/100