 
"We play real and honest black metal...We have no interest in being part of the glitter and showbiz side of the music industry". So says Darkthrone skin pounder Fenriz, explaining his band's thumbs down to a nomination for the prestigious Norwegian Alarm Music Award. Like the stubborn child whose jaw is firmly clenched against the impending fork full of asparagus, Darkthrone has made a career out of musical insubordination. Sardonic Wrath, the Nordic duo's latest middle finger statement, shows their continuing rejection of all things current and fashionable. By relying heavily on sparse production, primitive riffs, and simple song structures, Darkthrone perpetuates the old-school metal mentality. How old-school are they? Darkthrone is like the geezer you've sized up on a 10-speed Peugeot; His bike is rusty and creaking. His legs are bony, frail. Hell, his helmet is an Eisenhower-issue! So, you're gonna show this shuffle-boarder how a real man pedals. Not so fast! By the power of Greyskull! The ancient mariner leaves you dead in his wake! You tuck your tail and the old man carries on. Darkthrone pays as much respect to archetypal black metal acts like Celtic Frost and Venom as they do to the proto-hardcore punk of Discharge or Black Flag. The only thing distinguishing songs such as "Alle Gegen Alle" or "Sjakk Matt Jesu Krist" from sounding like lost "Morbid Tales" sessions is vocalist Nocturno Culto's strained, primal screams. His voice is so abrasive that I'm quite certain a psychosomatic case of strep throat is setting in! Add Fenriz's drunken percussion and the ear-splitting guitar squeal, and you'll be drinking penicillin like it was water! Enthusiasts of the "black metal chic" will ultimately be disappointed. No intimidating mesh t-shirts, uplifting synth arias, or positively evil Mary Kay black eyeliner here. Darkthrone prefer the focal point to be the music.What you get is the stripped down essence of what black metal is about; a steadfast anti-establishment and misanthropical savagery channeled through primitive music. Darkthrone are notorious for their brief studio stints (the previous album "Hate Them" was completed in 28 hours!). Sardonic Wrath follows suit, sounding more like a whimsical garage recording than a focused studio effort. This, however, is definitely a good thing. Overproduction would only serve as a detriment. Imagine Darkthrone with the glamed-out, glossy radio-friendliness of a Cradle of Filth or Dimmu Borgir. No thanks! The highlight is the opener, "Information Wants to be Syndicated". Beginning with a blasting, war-shuffle reminiscent of Immortal's "Battles in the North", Darkthrone have returned with a ferocity not heard since the "Transylvanian Hunger" era. Gone are the days of youth-angst satanism, replaced with biting, politically charged lyrics. The chorus "...Uninformed, ill informed, comfortably dumb, easily formed..." displays an acute awareness for the disturbing direction our society is headed in.Sardonic Wrath shows why I've always been a Darkthrone fan. They really don't care what you or yo mama thinks. Their fuck-it-all attitude shines through brilliantly on this album. Leave the butterfly tramp-stamps for the MTV lambs and buy this album. You're so punk rock. -- Andreew Andermatt |
Darkthrone