Review Summary: Darkthrone’s hunger is eternal…
Over the last few years it could be said that Darkthrone have been steadily moving themselves towards a laid back version of themselves. Long gone is Darkthrone of the early 90s, and the pioneering soundscapes of
A Blaze In The Northern Sky,
Under A Funeral Moon or the iconic,
Transilvanian Hunger, and yet Darkthrone remained prevalent on the forefront challenging metal’s perception, never staying idle on any particular style or niche for an extended period. At the core of Darkthrone’s sound however, was the ability to grow, mature and progress into a different version of itself, but importantly, they (and their respective releases) remained familiar, shifting enough to be noticeable, without being at odds with the framework that allowed them such a withstanding position amongst the Norwegian metal scene.
As expansive as the Darkthrone discography is, you can’t help but admire their shift into more complacent, “laid bare” styles of music. If 2019’s
Old Star was anything to go by, the natural shift into a fully-fledged proto-doom version of themselves would be a natural, self-defining step. Before that,
The Underground Existence more than hinted at a classic heavy metal revival, but the typical black metal nuance kept pace. Taking comparisons another step further,
Eternal Hails...... is decidedly less “polished” than the likes of
Arctic Thunder or
Old Star and yet, from the guitars to the sonorous bass kick, Darkthrone’s 2021 piece is unmistakably...well, Darkthrone.
“His Masters Voice” quickly turns into a romp, riffs surging into life before Nocturno Culto’s signature vocal style snarls through the din. Quickly recognizable is the band’s penchant for taking vintage sounds with them wherever they go. In fact, the record’s first single, “Hate Cloak” offers simple dual notes and drawling riffs over the thump of Fenriz’ drums. Nothing here is over-produced, sticking to the types of soundscapes that defined both band members' early listening days. Repeated listens identify Darkthrone’s ability to draw earworms out of the most unassuming chord progressions and simple melodies. “Hate Cloak” takes the simple, the consistent and wraps it around the mind, a hymn of repetition and sultry 70s rock worship. Even the guitar solo seems to bleed from the back of a stage, fog machine and cigarette smoke working overtime to obscure that these heavenly notes come from mortal hands. Even as the record creeps over its halfway point,
Eternal Hails......’ shifts again. In having tracks that all exceed the seven minute mark, the more cerebral climes of “Wake Of The Awakened” are allowed the chance to breathe, becoming fully formed anthems that blend metal’s eras into a single fuzz-filled, vintage being.
Eternal Hails......’ longest composition, “Voyage to a Northpole Adrift” acts as a return of sorts. It’s here that we get glimpses of the same Darkthrone that crafted the meticulous riffs a la
The Underground Resistance. Breakneck riffs dance over a stable drumbeat, jutting guitar licks over vintage tremolo riffs and Nocturno’s trademark gurgle. The speed metal vibe that races through the track’s latter half ticks all the boxes for fans looking to move away from the mid-tempo pacing's already covered in the album’s more doomier passages and yet, the aesthetic isn’t lost—clippings of Saint Vitus, Cirith Ungol and Sabbath all mixed into the DNA of a modern take. It’s also here that listeners hear the rewards of Nocturno Culto’s natural affinity for faster, more riff-centric tracks while experimenting on the formula the duo lay bare as a whole. Darkthrone’s more furious side is not forgotten.
What
Eternal Hails...... lacks is a lot of obvious variance. When comparing the band’s more prolific records, listeners are probably able to identify that
Under A Funeral Moon is vastly different to this year’s release (a given since the two albums are separated by almost three decades), but when we compare the bulk of this forty minute release by its individual tracks, one could forgive a casual listeners’ complaint of blending moments, especially as
Eternal Hails...... traipses its way through every retro-doom nuance this side of Black Sabbath’s
self-titled debut. That aside, Darkthrone’s 2021 effort isn’t as much of a footslog as the above would suggest. Naysayers might suggest that Darkthrone have been neutered over the years, swapping icy atmospheres and blistering riffs for smoke induced rhythms and slower marches through minimal old-school doom, but ultimately
Hails......’ tracks provide a sonic journey free of pretentiousness or cheese.
Those that give the Fenriz’ and Nocturno Culto’s nineteenth record more than a casual spin will hear depth, nuance, servicing the very nostalgia invoked in bringing the Darkthrone “style” full circle, as if this humble Norwegian outfit ever had roots within the doom riffs they conjure today.
Eternal Hails...... resonates with those who have traveled with Darkthrone over the decades...grey patches scattered across a scene of neck-beards and receding hairlines while recognizing the band’s formula for not outright repeating themselves. If anything, Darkthrone proves metal doesn’t need to rely on
innovation,
speed or
demon-summoning amounts of distortion to craft relevant records of quality. In their place,
Eternal Hails...... offers up an epic of sorts, nailing purity and vintage aesthetic.
While
Eternal Hails...... may brood under the weight of its own nostalgia, the album’s core is drenched in whimsical motions, absorbed over the journey of multiple listens. Darkthrone is still as galvanizing as ever, filled to the brim with old-school flair and is abundant in its authenticity. When the
eternal hails call on the loyalists beckons, Darkthrone’s hypnotic flair shifts, resonating with the masses once again.
