Darkthrone
The Cult Is Alive

THE REVIEW

Darkthrone is the band that has influenced me the most musically (and not only), thanks to albums like "Under A Funeral Moon," which have indelibly marked the history of the darkest music. I still remember the first time I listened to that record... I was struck by those bass lines so bare and essential, yet throbbing and primitive.

Thirteen years (and nine albums) have passed since the release of that masterpiece (their third), a time span in which the Norwegian duo has slowly evolved (or rather devolved) their sound by blending increasingly retro influences, arriving at this pretentious-titled album. To be honest, their works starting from "Ravishing Grimness," where they embarked on the "new course," haven't impressed me much, as they could no longer convey that macabre and dark aura of their best times, despite remaining good records.

With "The Cult is Alive," Darkthrone certainly doesn't retrace their steps. Instead, they completely forget those atmospheres that made them famous but release an album of definite impact, catchy, and well-produced. The attitude is now rock'n'roll, the songwriting is very simple (as always), and they draw heavily upon sacred monsters like Motorhead and Celtic Frost (in some songs almost plagiarizing). The guitars still have the typical "Darkthrone" sound but this time are more powerful and well-defined; Nocturno Culto's voice is as deep as usual, but the singing rhythms differ, more pronounced (listening to "Atomic Coming," one of the most representative tracks, reminds me of "Agent Orange" by Sodom).

The whole album is based on medium tempos (occasionally medium-fast), and after fifteen years, you can hear Fenriz do a double bass passage (!!), and he also sings the entire "Graveyard Slut," which seems to come straight from "Morbid Tales" by Celtic Frost. Among the album's strengths are its homogeneity and the absence of tone drops. I poorly digested their choice to release a single, from such a "cult" band, one doesn't expect such things, but you know, times change... and fortunately, there's always a respectable underground scene (black-metal), especially American, French, Norwegian, and lately even Italian.

The final rating (3.5, please debaser... introduce the half vote... if you like) would be higher if I could forget what Darkthrone has done in the past.

More than a sufficient album, no longer for the few... but for the many...