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THE REVIEW
Darkthrone.
The name of this band is tied to many chapters that have made black metal a genre both loved and (very) hated by the metal audience, and it is on this basis that I undertake to review their latest discographic effort. "The cult is alive" indeed doesn't stray much from the previously stated clichés: extremely "garage" production, very dirty riffs, "distant" drums (this time not too much), extremely fierce vocals, and highly low-fi sounds. But it is precisely because of these characteristics that even the latest work by the Oslo natives proves to be of tremendous impact, combining the minimalism of black metal they have created with the "damnation" typical of rock'n'roll on the edge of crust-punk! Such is the novelty in the new compositions by Fenriz and Nocturno Culto. And I am referring particularly to tracks such as "The cult of Goliath", "Too old, too cold", and the feral "Atomic Coming", where the riffs prove to be compelling, the groove unstoppable, and Ted's voice reigns supreme, imparting a truly impressive fury to the whole. The vocal parts indeed reveal themselves as the true strong point of the album as they perfectly align with the band's "new" musical direction, and in the emblematic "Shut up" (perhaps the most easy listening track in their history), they deliver a punch that many current singers can just forget. Also worth mentioning is Mr. Fenriz's work on the drums: precise, violent, but at the same time able to "dirty" the instrument as in the past. "The cult is alive" will most likely displease the purists as it incorporates different influences compared to the past, but as far as I’m concerned, it doesn't change a bit the musical message of the Norwegians: anger, hatred, disgust, and wickedness transformed into music.
The only difference lies in having combined the minimalism of the early nineties with musical influences (punk, Celtic Frost) that Darkthrone has never hidden in all their interviews.
Beware of reviews that declare their "sellout" to a wider audience, this album has nothing commercial, and impact to share in abundance, perhaps even more than in the past!
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Summary by Bot
The Cult Is Alive by Darkthrone stays true to their black metal roots with garage-style production, fierce vocals, and low-fi sound. The album introduces punk and rock influences without compromising their core musical message of anger and intensity. Key tracks showcase uncompromising riffs and vocals, while Fenriz's drumming remains precise and impactful. Though it may divide purists, the album offers a fresh yet powerful continuation of Darkthrone's legacy.Tracklist Lyrics 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 PasMal?
Darkthrone certainly doesn’t retrace their steps, but release an album of definite impact, catchy, and well-produced.
The attitude is now rock’n’roll, the songwriting is very simple, and they draw heavily upon sacred monsters like Motorhead and Celtic Frost.
