Darkthrone
Dark Thrones and Black Flags

The Darkthrone, with their stylistic change, have managed to achieve a goal (perhaps intentional; from Fenriz and Nocturno Culto you can expect anything) which I find incredible: to become hated by almost the entire metal scene! Indeed, the creators of albums like "Transilvanian Hunger" and "Panzarfaust" have decided to abandon (already from the previous "The Cult Is Alive" and "F.O.A.D.") the typical structures of Norwegian Black Metal to move towards sounds peculiar to the '80s, drawing inspiration from bands like Motorhead, Venom, and the dirtiest of that era.

The result (disappointing for many) is, in my opinion, truly unexpected and engaging; in fact, one only needs to clear their mind of the minimal riffs and the icy vocals of their historical works to fully appreciate the simplicity of a work like "Darkthrone and Black Flags". An album that makes the linearity and "eighties" structures its strength. In this regard, just let yourself be carried away by the final break of "Hiking Metal Punks" to realize the "archaeological" retrieval the duo intended to accomplish, characterized by no technical or conceptual effort but rather emerged from a simple passion for a certain way of understanding Heavy Metal that can still excite and captivate today.

Another strong point of the work in question is its "passionate" side. Listening to tracks like "The Winds They Called The Dungeon Shaker", "Norway In September" (one of the most beautiful), and "Blacksmith Of The North (Keep That Ancient Fire)" feels almost like seeing those two shady figures of Nocturno Culto and Fenriz having fun in their recording studio playing what they like best, uncaring if it's too "retro" or not "black" enough, not at all fearful of potential accusations of further betrayal towards the "Black Flame" (promptly presented to them as an inevitable bill at the end of a meal in a restaurant).

Technically analyzing this album is impossible, as it turns out to be compact, homogeneous, and entirely devoid of any technical ambition (the latter point, consistent with their past), so the only thing I can do is advise you to listen to it, trying (quoting the last track, "Witch Ghetto") to "break the chains" that link Darkthrone to their past; who knows, perhaps it will pleasantly surprise you.