Darkthrone is a name within extreme metal circles that carries its own reputation, needs no introduction, and creates its own set of mandates. ‘’ Astral Fortress’ ’is the Norwegian’s 20th Album that further pursues their journey down a more traditional metal path.
The expectation of each release makes Darkthrone almost impossible to view objectively. Their fan base is so rabid it often begs the question, is it a good record? Or is it good because it’s the new Darkthrone record?
Astral Fortress is a great Metal record, that separates them further from their famous past. The album cover with the Panzerfaust hoodie skating on thin ice has many multiple meanings as the distance between their unshakeable black metal legacy and their obsession with all things metal continues.
“Kevorkian Times ‘and ‘Stalagmite Necklace” are true traditional metal songs the latter with some well-placed synth that merge their punk along with first-wave (Venom, Celtic Frost) infused aesthetics. Some of the ideas however are greater than the execution. “The Sea Beneath the Seas of the Sea” is a late 70s-inspired behemoth of a song that literally begs for some Dio touches and some clean vocals so grand is the idea.
You get clean singing for a brief moment before it finishes as an instrumental with the second half far superior to the first. The riffs are incredibly heavy however and now carry a lot of that now-famous Darkthrone Duuung.
“Caravan of Broken Ghosts” is pure metal with its layered synths and doom creativity, it is raw and muscular in its delivery, and you would expect no less. If you are looking for the Black Metal Darkthrone it is barely recognizable under the guise of “Impeccable Caravans of Satan’’ with its great riffs and more of its hidden irony. ‘Eon 2’ returns you to Soulside Journey such is the awareness of their own legacy.
Astral Fortress is tough and unapologetic, it’s an ode to the 70s and the style is presented with much affection without compromising any of the Darkthrone sensibility that now includes classic doom and some psychedelia. They have perfected their ‘true’ heavy metal style and created a beast of an album that cares little for reputation and more about the love of metal.
Darkthrone: Facebook
Release Year: 2022
Label: PEACEVILLE
Category: Album
Country: Norway
Reviewed by Sparky
