Darkthrone - Astral Fortress (2022)
If ever there were a band that has mixed reception from me, it's Darkthrone. You can chalk that up to the fact that these guys are sort of metal chameleons. Sometimes they're heavy metal, sometimes crust punk, sometimes black metal. Their earlier releases may have all the notoriety, but I would argue this band has been vastly improved over recent releases.
I'm not sure if I'd put them in my top 10 or even 20 bands of all-time, but these guys have 20 albums released. That's right, 20 full-length albums. If you ever want to venture through a winding discography, this band is for you.
This little review is long overdue. I've listened to this album countless times now - at least 50-70 - and I think it's time I share how much I enjoy it.
First Impressions
The production on this album is GREAT. Especially if you're coming from their previous release (Eternal Hails......) which has a muddled sound, almost as if you're listening to it through speakers covered in a blanket. This album is crystal clear, you can hear every single note, every pluck of guitar, every synth key, every beat played. It's so clean sounding for such a heavy sound.
And that heavy sound carries throughout the album. It's a heavy metal album with incredibly catchy riffs and hooks. The guitar solos, while minimalist on the whole, are so perfectly laid within these grooves. Even the vocals, which are admittedly on the "rougher" side of things, feel right at home with the gritty nature of this album. Songs fit together well while remaining distinct entities that go on their own journeys. This might be their apex.
Songs That Stick Out
This is incredibly difficult for me because I am a HUGE fan of this album, but let me give you a few to whet your appetite.
Impeccable Caverns of Satan is my favorite song to play along with. If you play guitar, get yours out and rock along. It has a really interesting progression that switches up a bit as it goes and is incredibly fun to play. The drumming on this track is great, moving seamlessly between thundering blasts and punked-out grooves.
Stalagmite Necklace is a slow groover that has a riff that will stick in your head for days. It follows a pretty traditional verse-chorus-verse structure, so it's easy to get into. There are nice synths giving this track some weight, while the main riff does most of the heavy lifting.
Kevorkian Times starts out with a great hook and marches on slowly (for metal) to what I would argue is the most punk-inspired song on the album. Great riffs, a mix of slow and fast, and fantastic drumming.
Skippable Songs
I don't skip any, however if you don't like short, ambient instrumentals, you might want to skip Kolbotn, West of the Vast Forests. It's only 1:55, but it's an atmospheric piece played on a detuned piano. It has a good mood, you should just listen to it.
Verdict
This is my favorite Darkthrone album and it's definitely in my top 10 albums of all-time. I've listened to it so many times now and always find new things to enjoy whilst doing so. It's not the heaviest album of theirs, nor is it the blackest, nor the punkest, nor the thrashest. It's the culmination of all of those years of experimentation and refinement coming to a head in one close to perfect release. Darkthrone is pretty prolific in terms of writing and releasing music, which is helped by the fact that they don't actually tour and are a "studio band" for the most part. I'll be shocked if they ever top this.
As always, I will note that these ratings are based entirely upon my enjoyment of the album. It doesn't take any historic, cultural, political, or musical relevance or influence into account. That said, I give this album a nine out of ten. If you're new to Darkthrone, check this album out. After that, I'd recommend hitting up The Cult Is Alive, F.O.A.D., and The Underground Resistance. Great albums that mix things up. If you want classic "black metal Darkthrone," you need to listen to their first four albums. And with that, I leave you to melt faces.
You can buy the album at your favorite store or stream it from your favorite service.
