DARKTHRONE
Plaguewielder
(Moonfog Productions)
42:50min

Consistency in a world gone mad! That’s a term used here in reference to Guiness in believe, but one could also level that same argument at Norway’s DARKTHRONE. A band, who by all means, single handedly redefined what Black Metal was ten years ago. But here we are now, 2001, ten years on from their momentous "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" with their latest offering "Plaguewielder". It is somewhat more MOTÖRHEAD than anything else. Same as on "Ravishing Grimness", the beats and rhythm patterns all remind me of MOTÖRHEAD. There is a dark, melanholic (misanthropic?) resonance to it all but it all seems more rock n’ roll that anything preceeding "Total Death" ("Goatlord" not withstanding). The songs are long and somewhat ponderous at times directing ones concentration away from the music. Where can DARKTHRONE actually go and what can they really do that we might expect something in the form of genius from them again? I don’t think there is any answer to that. They simply are and will most likely remain to pound out mid paced, rocka rolla Black Metal, always in the shadow of their previous masterpieces, but there will always be some of us who are glad that a band like DARKTHRONE still does exist, irrespective of what they really do or sound like (yep, like me – Frank).

Darragh O’Leary

Darragh O'Leary

Related reviews / interviews:
DARKTHRONE - Soulside Journey / A Blaze In The... (Rick Cortez)
DARKTHRONE - Too Old, Too Cold (Nhashi)
DARKTHRONE - New Wave Of Black Heavy Metal (Nhashi)
DARKTHRONE - Frostland Tapes (Frank Stöver)
DARKTHRONE - Circle The Wagons (Luis M.L. Sallard )
DARKTHRONE - Dark Thrones And Black Flags (Nathan Shapiro )
DARKTHRONE - F.O.A.D. (Nhashi)
DARKTHRONE - The Cult Is Alive (Nhashi)
DARKTHRONE - Preparing For War (Nemtheanga)
DARKTHRONE - Interview (Andi Bauer, Nhashi, Frank Stöver)
DARKTHRONE - Interview (Rick Cortez)

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