Not so Quickie: Dark Throne's 'Old Star' Is Proof That Black Metal Lives Today

While I wait for my Angelmaker review to go up, I want to write something real fast about Darkthrone, one of the most well known black metal acts hailing from the genre's hometown of Norway. Despite being a two-piece group at this point, they have been writing some solid material. Arctic Thunder was probably my favorite record that came out in 2016. Because of the heavy metal with Darkthrone's riffing heard in their "middle-ages." Ever since the dawn of the 21st century, this group has begun to mix new bells and whistles to the traditional black metal sound, this one no different.

"I Muffle Your Inner Choir"kicks the album off with mid-tempo black metal riffage and a drumming frenzy. Something you'd expect from a genre as loud and winding as black metal. Elements of Punk are quite noticeable on this song, as well. Nearing the end of this song, we get a proto-doom-ish noise that Arctic Thunder had its moments with. This song, along with the rest of the album, sort of reminds me of Ditto, the Pokémon. Having the ability to take shape and form of any sort of object. But in this case, with any sound.

"The Hardship of the Scots"begins with a heavy metal riff likening to that of early Judas Priest, but then morphs into a Black Sabbath groove. The Judas Priest noise returns for even a solo, as well. The mid-portion of this song continues on this heavy metal trend this song follows rather consistently. The song then picks up with a melodic train of groove and power metal sound for the rest of the song.

The title track, "Old Star," is the shortest song of the album, but it leaves a large impact despite its small size. Following the doom trend, but mixing in the early black metal sound they have played in for so long. This song has the coolest riff I've ever heard. Which is further improved by the production of this record. I talk about production often, yes, but that is the butter to the bread we call music. Bad production can't mix with good music... most of the time. This production is perfect for a band such as Darkthrone. It sounds muddy, but it's also clean at the same time. You can hear everything, but with that blackened tinge of incomprehensibility. This is for sure the best track of the album.

"Alp Man" begins with that classic, heavy metal sound, but mixes death metal in with it as well. Halfway through this song, they slow it down and pick up the doom torch again. Nocturno Culto's vocals create the blackened noise the song runs on top of with the multitude of genres being presented to the listener, almost like a buffet. The song finishes with a pretty sick solo.

"Duke of Gloat"is where the black metal in Darkthrone's older days really shines. With the intro blasting open a door like Chris Redfield. The tremolo riffs, the pounding drums. Thrash is also heard in this, as well. This brings me to the strongest point of this album. The fact that Darkthrone has no problem with mixing other genres with their already masterful art of black. This changes in between albums, but I do believe Old Star runs this banner the best. These guys have released 17 records in their career; that's some crazy stuff. They really began to change things about 11 albums in. So for six albums, they have been changing up the sound of the traditional black metal to their liking, and to their benefit, as well. Back to the "Duke." The song does slow down a bit, giving it almost a harmony of guitar riffage and drum consistency. Nearing the end of the song, it does pick up a bit but continues the riffs and drums. The vocals, while a little quiet, work very well with the instruments. Giving it a gloomy tone to the sometimes rather jumpy sound that runs across the six tracks.

"The Key Is Inside the Wall"is the final song of the album, and Darkthrone does not let their guard down. The doom you'd hear on a Black Sabbath record runs in the beginning, riffs, and the slow drumming. The duo has no problem in ramping it back up to a more punk-based sound. For a while, the song continues on the punk, then sort of repeats the doom, then back to the punk. Note that this is in the first three minutes. If you're not careful, this album can zip past you and you wouldn't even notice. This record is about 38 minutes, as well. The rest of the song follows a pattern of a slow, punk rhythm for the last minute or so, closing off the record in a very satisfying way.

Darkthrone proves once again that, just because they aren't playing pure black metal, that they can still make great music. Old Star is probably one of the greatest Black Metal albums that have come out in the 2010s. Especially in the final year of said decade. If you need a place to start in the genre, I'd start here, then dig deeper into Darkthrone's older stuff, then maybe look for other bands, up to you. Well, that's my Not-So-Quick Review, peace.

Old Star gets a 9/10.

Listen to Old Star, out May 31st, through Peaceville Records.