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THE REVIEW
M.P.D.S.!!!!! These four letters shouted at the top of one's lungs open the dance... and so we can already imagine what awaits us as we continue listening.
METAL PUNK DEATH SQUAD... the Norwegian duo doesn't seem to want to return to the roots at all; on the contrary, the old school sound is increasingly present... but this time in a much less impactful way than in the past. Let me explain better. Assuming that I love the new musical direction taken by Darkthrone to bits and consider "The cult is alive" one of their absolute best albums, this new "Circle the wagons" loses power, frontal attack, "ignorance".
The sensation you get from listening is that Fenriz wanted to mix in a single work all that was done before (I'm always referring to the recent period) adding heavy influences, nwobhm and more classic rock. This choice could have been winning but unfortunately, it hasn't been expressed properly; it almost seems forced. In fact, there are many punk riffs that then lead into melodic and clean singing (unheard of for the Norwegian group), which indeed goes to take the edge off the song. Listen to the opening "those treasures will never befall you" and the title track to believe it... They are not absolutely bad songs, but you perceive a sense of forcing, and after a while, the album can seem a bit cumbersome. Of course, the direct pieces, properly METAL PUNK, are there: "I am the graves of the 80's" is one of the most beautiful pieces birthed by Darkthrone, pure violence to support eighties metal and against the plasticity of senseless modern metal "destroy the modern metaaaaaal!!headbang your fuckin' head," Fenriz advises us.
Now, these may seem like nonsense to those who are all neat and cute and listen to CDs in front of the PC and like to play the reviewer, pseudo-intellectual know-it-all, but I can assure you that Fenriz's words are sincere and his devotion to metal and the underground is real. Returning to the musical aspect, the boring "stylized corpse", a nearly 8-minute track, very bland and without head or tail, "eyes burst at dawn", a track that can be defined as "experimental" for Darkthrone due to its very epic and heavy nature and the other gem of the CD: "i am the working class", a very rowdy but effective track like a shotgun blast in the mouth.
There's not much more to add to this work... just imagine the last "Darkthrones and black flags" with more "classic" elements, and you're done.
Enjoy headbanging.
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Summary by Bot
Darkthrone's Circle The Wagons attempts to blend their recent metal punk style with influences from NWOBHM and classic rock, resulting in a less focused and somewhat forced album. While some tracks pack strong energy and raw passion, others feel cumbersome and experimental. Despite its flaws, the album maintains the band's authenticity and connection to the metal underground. Fans of the band’s evolving sound may find enjoyment amid the uneven impact.Tracklist Videos
Darkthrone
Darkthrone is a Norwegian metal duo centered on Fenriz and Nocturno Culto, formed in 1986. They are seminal figures in Norwegian black metal with landmark albums such as A Blaze in the Northern Sky, Transilvanian Hunger and Panzerfaust, and have explored death metal, doom, and retro heavy-metal/punk influences across their career.28 Reviews
Other reviews
By ChaosA.D.
The Norwegian duo has truly hit the mark, finding the perfect balance between personality and the desire to re-propose 'vintage' sounds.
You will not find extreme technicality or orchestral digressions here but only good old ’80s metallic spirit, irreverent, brash and of splendid immediacy.
