Many disapproved of such a release, this basement recording may well have been what the band were planning for Peaceville around the time of 'Soulside Journey', and it seems to me as if many fans took this record the wrong way. At the end of the day, Darkthrone have always done what the hell they want, and this album is no exception whether deemed an official release or not. Sure, it has the death metal rumblings of the early '90s and before they met Mayhem's Euronymous, but this is no fake sounding record, in fact it's one of distinct grim atmospheres and a sound very much akin to Celtic Frost. Nocturno's vocals are still very much macabre, spitting out the icy lyrics amid Fenriz and his muffled drum beats, but don't expect anything along the sides of their blacker stuff such as 'A Blaze..' because this is nothing of the sort. Yes, it's still black metal but more in a Venom/Bulldozer and certainly Celtic Frost way, just check out the female vocals (or is that Fenriz as come claim!!?) on (...Grimness Of Which Shepherd's Mourn' and the peculiar 'Green Cave Float'. Everything is played at mid pace and they certainly don't hide their influences on here, and the riffs reek of that late '80s Euro-thrash sound, mixing a tinny chill with distorted fuzz. It's still Darkthrone, it's still evil and primal, and it's still punk and a worthy addition to any one's collection if they are seeking that old school style of extreme metal.
7.5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment