Darkthrone - Old Star - review
Darkthrone - Old Star - review
Tracklist
01. I Muffle Your Inner Choir02. The Hardship Of The Scots
03. Old Star
04. Alp Man
05. Duke Of Gloat
06. The Key Is Inside The Wall
A review by
nikarg June 26, 2019
Old Star is close in sound to Arctic Thunder (and far from their crust/punk-ish era), but it is overall a stronger release with more interesting songwriting and a lot more hooks. As Fenriz himself put it, "Old Star is the big brother of Arctic Thunder. More solid and with even better riffs". It also marks a welcome return to black and white cover artwork - and this one is absolutely stunning.
From the opener, "I Muffle Your Inner Choir", which gets things going with black metal energy that subsequently gives way to crushing doominess, to the fierce closer "The Key Is Inside The Wall", which plays the game of tension and release very convincingly, Darkthrone really sound like the are enjoying themselves more than they have for a long time. The title track is one of the most rewarding ones in the album, built upon slightly dissonant ground, paired with a malevolent -as well as catchy- melody halfway into the song, and sprinkled with some nice cymbal work from Fenriz. "Alp Man" takes its cues from '80s doom metal and many should find familiar Candlemass vibes in it.
As much as Old Star features some exciting and memorable riffs, it must be said that Darkthrone are at times guilty of severe plagiarism in this album. If you take the first two singles as examples, you will of course recognize in "The Hardship Of The Scots" one of the sexiest riffs in history, taken from AC/DC's "Let Me Put My Love Into You" and you will also clearly hear Mayhem's "Cursed In Eternity" in "The Duke Of Gloat". Darkthrone have crafted these two exceptional tracks by blending some of the magic that has inspired them throughout their career with their own nasty sound that has inspired hundreds of other bands. It's no secret that they haven't shied away for many years now from paying homage to their root influences, and in Old Star these influences are probably more blatantly and unashamedly revealed than ever before.
In a nutshell, Old Star is a slab of blackened and doom-laden heavy metal, and if you have heard the track "Snowfall" from 1988's A New Dimension demo, it gives you a good idea of what they are doing in this album. Those of you that haven't been impressed by Darkthrone's deep dive into the '80s shouldn't really bother with it. However, those that have welcomed the stylistic shift of the band are going to get some raw-produced, ugly-looking, stripped-down metal, with a sincere we-don't-give-a-fuck attitude exuding from its pores.
"Mankind dies
In a shroud of introvert mumbling"
Comments
Comments:
12
Visited by
201 users
 Posts: 9628 |
Posts: 9628
I'm really confused as to why I liked Arctic Thunder but found this one so boring. Honestly my biggest disappointment of 2019.
---- Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking One day there will be no heart at all?
Loading...
|
 Posts: 684 |
Posts: 684
I really love this album. I know to some it's just warmed up 80's stuff, but to me it has much energy and rawness, as hardly found nowadays in other bands. Then again, maybe, I might just be a fanboy of anything Fenriz says and anything Ted plays   But if one thing is for sure, then it's that the lyrics, especially of the title track, are killer. "And out there in the fringes, the caravans are going in loops" ... EDIT: Great review!
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 1068  |
Posts: 1068 Written by Windrider on 26.06.2019 at 09:50 So do I and it gets better with every listen. I liked Arctic Thunder but for me this is on another level and I've come back to it time and time again. It's currently in my top 3 releases of 2019 with Wormwitch and the Hellripper EP. And I would never have noticed the first riff of Hardship was borrowed from AC/DC unless someone pointed it out. Same chord progression but they sound very different.
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 545  |
Posts: 545
This and the 2 previous albums have been great! This being the best of the bunch
Loading...
|
 Posts: 64460 |
Posts: 64460 Written by RaduP on 26.06.2019 at 08:25 You over act, its not so bad, better as so called raw bm and drim programing bm bands
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
|
| Posts: 9628 |
Posts: 9628 Written by Bad English on 26.06.2019 at 23:05 That's not a very high standard to reach. I wish I liked it more, but I can't stop feeling that riffs are really anemic.
---- Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking One day there will be no heart at all?
Loading...
|
| Posts: 64460 |
Posts: 64460 Written by RaduP on 26.06.2019 at 23:16 Thay are big and legendary band, but Demo bands and riffs, they are just 2 men, its old school Street music
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die" I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
|
 Posts: 8256 |
Posts: 8256
I didn't write it in the review, but this is probably my favourite Darkthrone release since Panzerfaust. Then again Written by Windrider on 26.06.2019 at 09:50 this also applies to me.
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 285 |
|
|
Posts: 603 |
|
 Posts: 15359 |
Posts: 15359 Written by nikarg on 27.06.2019 at 00:23 Wow. in my ears, thems big words as Hate Them is probably my fave. Will be listening to this again after getting through some Spanish metal offerings courtesy of Discos Macarras.
---- get the fuck off my lawn. Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 276  |
Posts: 276
I am really digging this album due to its Morbid Tales/Emperor's Return era Celtic Frost feel. I can see where some people may find it a bit boring but overall I think it is a solid release for Darkthrone!!
Loading...
|
Hits total: 4622 | This month: 1