2019 is about to get a hell of a lot more grim, because the legendary Darkthrone are set to return with their 17th studio album titled Old Star, slated for a May 31 release.
In the formative years following its 1987 inception, Darkthrone started with a strong concoction of thrash and then death/doom metal experimentation, with broader musical influences spanning from the '60s to the '80s, before the debut album, Soulside Journey, was unleashed in 1991. Never ones to follow convention or stand still even then, the band soon embraced a much darker, more primitive form of expression with the now iconic second album, A Blaze In The Northern Sky, the rest became history.
Their last album Arctic Thunder came out in 2016, and Fenriz says that the new record will be somewhat of a "big brother" to it:
“Old Star – again we are here with THE RIFFS! A while after our previous ‘Arctic Thunder‘ album it became apparent that we would continue in that same style, BLACK OLD HEAVY METAL with slow thrash, classic doom and slow death metal.
As many have focused on the 70s sound over the last 20 years, the mix on our new album has ended up being more 80s than ever. The songs are more metal than ever! Ted‘s songs have alot of black metal in them, faster and slower but also doomier parts and reoccurring parts. My songs are more linear written, it’s an ancient 80s underground trick, with breaks, all slow heavy or slow thrash, classic doom or slow death.
All in all it is our most 80s album so far and our most metal one to date with drum sound typical for the 80s USA/German market and damned lyrics, which are all written by me. We feel that Old Star is the big brother of Arctic Thunder. More solid and with even better riffs.”
For someone who hates the music industry, it sure sounds like Fenriz is trying to sell it - oh well, we're gonna listen anyway...
Darkthrone - Old Star tracklisting:
01 - I Muffle Your Inner Choir
02 - The Hardship Of The Scots
03 - Old Star
04 - Alp Man
05 - Duke Of Gloat
06 - The Key Is Inside The Wall
Listen to Darkthrone now.
