Darkthrone  'Transylvanian Hunger'
Peaceville, 1994
Lord Pale:
Transylvanian Hunger remains one of the few cult recordings of the early 1990's. Many is the artist (eg Samoth - Emperor) who claim it as an influential recording for today's scene (just listen to Judas Iscariot). Sounding similar stylistically to 'A Blaze In The Northern Sky', Transylvanian Hunger presents a more primitive simplistic approach. Developing some the famous Nordic blackmetal riffing interspersed with the occasional solo and a scathing blackmetal rasp, Darkthrone still manage to separate themselves from the league of impersonators in the way of Fenriz's unique drumming style. The title track is a true masterpiece, and one of two songs written in English on the album. The first half of the album is all Darkthrone originals, the latter half is written by Count Grishnackh (Burzum) for Darkthrone. This is an album that requires close listening, and if you're not into cult/necro blackmetal then avoid at all costs. Pure, evil, genius!
Favourite Tracks - Transylvanian Hunger, Slottet I Det Fjerne, En As I Dype Skogen
Mark - 7/10


Darkthrone  'Panzerfaust'
Moonfog, 1995
Lord Pale:
Panzerfaust is Darkthrone's first release since leaving Peaceville, now on Moonfog the band has dedicated the album to Satyr (Satyricon) head of Moonfog. Panzerfaust is Transylvanian Hunger meets Under a Funeral Moon on steroids. Nordic whining riffs howl over Fenriz's pounding drums with a meatier sound and better (though still grim) production job, whilst others take a slower heavier approach like the old death/thrash days. Very harsh (drunken?) vocals growl over the pelting beats and never seem satisfied with keeping time with the music if they can get away with it. Necro artwork again adorns the cover and a simplistic grey, black, and white booklet contains the lyrics. Panzerfaust has alot of variation in speeds and styles from the tribal sounding 'The Hordes of Nebula' through to the blatantly ripped off riff from Storm's 'Noregsgard' in Quintessence. The final track heralds a different twist, with loud atmospheric keyboards and mumbled Norwegian lyrics. A great new approach, if Darkthrone can keep this up then they should be kicking well into the new millennium.
Favourite Tracks - Ein Vind Av Sorg, Triumphant Gleam, The Hordes Of Nebula
Mark - 8/10


Darkthrone  'Goatlord'
Moonfog, 1996
Lord Pale:
Goatlord is compiled from rehearsal tapes recorded in 90'-91' and was originally supposed to be the follow up to Soulside Journey, but for unexplained reasons was released in 1996. Fenriz found the tapes and wrote the lyrics for Goatlord in 1994 and recorded the vocals the same year with a few guest screams from Satyr (Satyricon). Satyr deserves praise for releasing this piece of Darkthrone's history, the missing link between 'Soulside...' and 'A Blaze ...' and musically it remains very similar to Soulside Journey, basic thrashy deathmetal with sloppy musicianship. Generally mid paced with no real feel for song structuring, just good riffs and Fenriz's trademark drumming wrapped in a typical Darkthrone production (ie crap but listenable). What sets Goatlord apart from Darkthrone's other releases is Fenriz's stab at feminine vocals, he wails and moans in a scarily female voice, which contrasts sharply with the blackmetal shouts that dominate the microphone. Very bleak and scathing black/thrash, highly entertaining.
Favourite Tracks - Black Diamon, Pure Demoniac Blessing, Green Cave Float
Mark - 7.5/10


Darkthrone  'Ravishing Grimness'
Moonfog, 1999
Lord Pale:
Ravishing Grimness is to be Darkthrone's last album according to the band and it is an interesting turn to go out on. Combining the chunkier parts of Panzerfaust with a more rockier less thrash sound, Darkthrone now sit amidst the slow to mid paced realms of blackmetal. Where Transylvanian Hunger would break out into Fenriz's brutal 'necro pounding' with Nordic riffing, Ravishing Grimness breaks into a pulsing groove. Ravishing Grimness also has Darkthrone's clearest production job to date, but have they sold out? No, this is still fairly grim blackmetal that many of today's fringe blackmetallers will find hard to get into despite the newfound rhythmic bend. Lyrics for 'The Beast' are provided by Aldrahn (Dodhiemsgard/Zyklon B) and Fog proving that the big guns in blackmetal are still harkening to Darkthrone's call. The typical grim cover art is all there and there is now doubt this is a natural path for Darkthrone to follow. An original fitting swan song.
Favourite Tracks - Across The Vacuum, To The Death, The Beast
Mark - 7.5/10


Darkthrone  'Preparing For War'
Peaceville, 2000
Lord Pale:
A 'best of' album from Peaceville Records, featuring a selection of Darkthrone's earlier material from that era. Preparing for War contains 15 tracks, 3 from 'Transylvanian Hunger', 2 from 'A Blaze In The Northern Sky', 2 from 'Soulside Journey', 2 from 'Under A Funeral Moon', 2 early demo tracks, 2 live tracks recorded in 1989 and 'Neptune Towers' an unusual Darkthrone track heavy in synth. Fenriz provides an interesting band bio in the fold out digi pak and the artwork remains consistent with their earlier work and provides the appropriate cult feeling. The material contained within varies from death/thrash, to rocky blackmetal, to the origins of the true Nordic sound of riffing. Darkthrone influenced and inspired many bands with their Peaceville albums and helped to kick start the scene today. This is a great place to start if you've never heard them before or a good collection piece for Darkthrone purists, 15 grim/raw blackmetal masterpieces, get it.
Favourite Tracks - Transylvanian Hunger, Snowfall, In the Shadow of the Horns
Mark - 8.5/10


Darkthrone  'Plague Wielder'
Moonfog, 2001
Lord Pale:
Darkthrone return with a new album after their supposed swan song in the form of Plague Wielder, an album very much in the same vein as its predecessor. The immediate differences come in the form of its speed as it picks up a greater pace than Ravishing Grimness, but in the process losses the groove factor that album possessed. The material on Plague Wielder is less catchy, but has a more traditional blackmetal sound with more riffs and less structure. The album as usual is packed with great riffs this time round with more of the famous Nordic riffing that they have become re known for than the last release and more attempts at reaching blastbeat status, which is another point to note. Fenriz's drumming whilst good, is still rather bland compared to his usual work, with less concentration on his usual pounding style in favour of a more generic blackmetal approach. Nevertheless there are some hooks and chorus in here that grab the attention duly and even remind me a little of Immortal which is always a good thing. The only other point to note is in the change in artwork, Darkthrone seem to have abandoned their 'ravishing grimness' and opted for a more modern looking Moonfog style cover that looks great regardless. Another worthy release in my eyes.
Favourite Tracks - Command; Weakling Avenger; I , Voidhanger
Mark - 6.5/10
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