I can say this to people if you didn’t care for Eternal Hails or Oldstar you will not care for this new Darkthrone album. That being said those are my 2 Favorite Darkthrone albums since Panzerfaust, A Blaze in the Northern Sky, Transylvanian Hunger. Absolutely love the Black Sabbath and 1st Wave Black Metal influence. I think maybe some songs go on for too long maybe but other than that I really enjoy it 4/5.
I'm a sucker for Darkthrone. I can't help it nor can I really explain it. It's just good old reliable metal that's not remarkable enough to require a lot of energy to listen to, but not offensively bad enough to wanna turn off. There's a charm to the cheekiness of it. Couldn't tell you why, but I keep coming back.
interesting take i ADORED this album and its honest to god maybe my 2nd fav by the band!! but yeah there are def bits where they drone on for too long... overall i think i would give it a flat 8/10
I get why it's hit or miss, as long as it's not the annoying "they're not kvlt anymore," but I think Darkthrone is what any band should hope to be. They're friends who make stuff they want to make, not for others, and it never feels disingenuous. And it's still loved and anticipated by many.
Watching this after seeing Thralls of Metal's review. You and Necrotic Nick have two completely different interpretations of this record. I appreciate it though. I love this record but I get what you are saying about it droning on and being one dimensional. I mostly like Darkthrone's newer material though so this is pretty much what I expect when I reach for them anyway. To me this record is pretty par for the course with Old star and Eternal Hails which I love.
This is definitely one of the albums of all time, it has guitars, bass, drum, vocals, riffs, solos, and most importantly, lyrics, truly one of the albums of 2022 I Was beyond bored by the end of this thing and im glad i only listened to it once and didn't touched it with a 10 foot long poll after, 0.5/5
Livestream will be fun! I will try to be there but I don’t know how busy I’ll be. As for this album, I absolutely adore Darkthrone and all of their phases of their career whether that’s the early death metal, 2nd wave black metal stuff, or their crust punk stuff, and even the more modern black metal with heavy metal influence and some doom influence. I really love it all go be honest, and I really enjoyed this new album for what it is, because I really love this style. I’d give it a 3.5/5, but as I mentioned above, I’m biased as hell in favor of Darkthrone lol
I can see where you are coming from, even if I have become a huge Darkthrone fan over the past couple years. I love that they aren't bending to trends and doing their own thing. To me, this new Darkthrone record--their 20th overall--is better than Eternal Hails....... Their current sound just has this charm akin to watching your cool stoner metalhead uncles playing in a garage somewhere that I happen to like and enjoy. It's very similar to the charm that a band like cult legends Manilla Road tends to give off (another one of my favourite groups).
Darkthrone is my favourite of the Norwegians; manilla Road is my favourite metal band. I do think the latter displays more skill and tightness in their songs and playing, but also get why you say they have a somewaht similar vibe 9at times)...and of course we all know Darkthrone sold their souls to them, anyway.
I have to say that I always like Darkthrone, they are the band that started me into black metal so many years ago. I do love their first album for sure… I’ll admit lately these newer Darkthrone albums have to grow on me for quite awhile before I like these albums. Also, this album will have to grow on me for a while. Never know what these guys are gonna do on each album these days. As a guitarist I like the riffage on seas, but agree it doesn’t have to be so long. Eon 2 seemed a bit lazy to me. I can go on forever about this 😂 pretty much found out about this album coming out yesterday because I thought it was coming out later this month (November) lastly, You’re not in trouble with me about your review of this album. I’ll see how much this album grows on me. The Cult is Alive is my favorite of their crust punk era, but sometimes the crust punk sorta made me cringe here and there. Take care Brother and good seeing ya, it has been a long time!
Well man! I don't think you'll get in trouble -- I don't think Darkthrone fans are Five Finger Deathpunch fans or even Pantera fans. is that disappointing? haha Now, these guys are my favourite of all the Norwegian black metal lot by a considerable margin. I don't think they've ever made a truly bad album; some of them are truly great and nearly al of them are stacked full of killer riffs. You're right that they seem to ahve problems with transitions in their songs and have done for a bit now. The riffs and vibe are still great for me though and I'm looking forward to hearing this one. You said right at the beginning that you don't really 8get* something about Darkthrone (sorry, can't remember exactly what your words were), and you use words like "iconic" to describe them -- true, yes, but also kind of a safely detached adjective that shows you just don't connect with them the way some people do. I persoanlly would never start someone off with Transilvanian Hunger -- great album but not one I play too often because of its single-minded approach. I will say i'ts very nice to hear you express positivity toward the "crust punk" albums. I said this in a comment to Thralls' video on this record but, my perhaps controversial take is that I honestly don't think Darkthrone ever changed that much -- it's just the same influences they've always had, juggled around and moved about, and if you like, with a little different seasoning sprinkled on the main dish (you know i love your food analogies). I think Darkthrone fans now know exactly what the band is. Just a couple of pretty down-to-earth, relaxed dudes makin the music they like. We know this and we accept it. We're here for the riffs and weird quirky things like Fenriz's bizarre vocal choices. Are their new albums perfect masterpieces? Hell no. Still pretty ace though. I personally would like them to try a different songwriting approach, working in closer collaboration on their music. Right now, from what I read, they each come to the table with their own songs taht they've already written. Fenriz's songs are a bit simplistic and Nocturno's have the awkward transitions. maybe they could cancel out each other's weaknesses. But I don't know -- maybe they have already tried this or whatever; i don't have real insight into their process.
I think darkthrone could benefit of having one or two more members in the band so more ideas can be proposed I think other black metal bands could benefit as well
Darkthrone is one of my favorite bands in black metal and I thought that this new album was decent. I still think the previous two albums Old Star and Eternal Hails are better but it's still decent. The only thing that's super off-putting is the album cover.
To me, Darkthrone added onto everything that has made Black Metal as good as it has been. A good ole classic band is what I think we needed. Granted, it's far from the best album the Black Metal scene has seen this year, but it's still pretty good. Side note The Sea Beneath The Seas Of The Sea is a fucking tongue twister and a repetitive song title, my LORD
@@themetalmeltdownofficial Yeah, Darkthrone I think have officially won me over as a fan. Although if anyone disappointed by this wants Blackened Doom Metal, I believe Worm put out an EP yesterday as well...
I appreciate your take. "Impeccable" is probably my favorite track on the album. I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but Darkthrone is the one band I pay attention to. I also enjoyed the previous two albums.
Given it a couple of listens, I'm not enjoying it as much as Eternal Hails...... but its still a solid LP. Loving the guitar solos, synths, and other new things they've added. As far as I'm concerned, this run of albums since Arctic Thunder is better than the Unholy Trinity.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial I'm just saying, A Blaze is not a great listening experience because half of it was repurposed death metal material that doesn't work with the black metal production. Then Under a Funeral Moon is fine but has, for my ears, unbearably bad production. I love Transilvanian Hunger though.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial That being said, I was a little disappointed by this LP, one that let me down a bit this year, just like my girl Carly Rae Jepsen did not deliver on her new album :(
@@themetalmeltdownofficial Just wanted to say, thanks very much Robert for reviewing this latest LP from Darkthrone "Astral Fortress". Another great & honest review. No bullshit, tell it like it is. I highly respect your opinion. Gives me some idea of what to expect. You're like a Metal Yoda. "The Force Is Strong With This One" or not. Man, u had me hanging on every word you said. I was absolutely enthralled. It was intense watching until the glorious climax of this review. Brilliant. Just remember, whenever you hve moments of self doubt that you're heading in the right direction down the metal path, that there'll always be someone who appreciates your time & effort it takes to make these videos for the metal masses. One of the greatest minds in metal today. We are truly blessed. We're not worthy! Cheers man. 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻
i liked it. I stopped thinking of them as a black metal band a long time ago. i just think of them as an AC/DC style band. they just do some simple stuff. and somehow it works for me. its just a good time.
Uh... love your channel agree on most of your takes if you are not bringing in this millenial boomer crap, but i Stick with necroticnick on this one i guess. Really enjoy this Album awesome riffs, interesting production, yes 4 out of 5 for me. So, more power to me😉
This album is absolute brilliant like most Darkthrone stuff. The lazy riff you mention on Impeccable is not even Celtic Frost based, it is Hellhammer, it is simple on purpose for sure, the dimensions it creates is awesome. The fact that most riffs don't have different tails on different bars is killer, it creates the vibe that Black Sabbath started and lots of bands followed. Later when guitar players started having tons of different tails for riffs things just got boring. Sometimes simple is genius. Darkthrone knows how to do it.
He does most of them, but they share vocal duties. Fenriz usually does the kind of clean warbling, high pitched singing, etc. he'sg ot the higher voice and sometimes you hear him do a Tom Warrior impression on other songs, too.
In my time away, I've come to appreciate Black Metal a lot more and have found many albums that I really enjoy: Silence is Eternal by Vredensdal, Alpenpässe by Minenwerfer, and even early Darkthrone albums. I'm still more a Death Metal fan, so Soulside Journey, being the most closely alligned with my musical taste, is my favorite Darkthrone album. But Astral Fortress is just not good and I consider myself a Darkthrone fan.
I personally don't think you get what this album is supposed to be. Darkthrone does what they want, and don't care what anyone thinks. I actually really enjoyed this album. And the fact that you mentioned Fenriz as vocalist goes to show that you know little about the band to begin with. Ted has always been the main vocalist in their ventures, with Gylve only backing up with clean vocals at times, and only on certain albums. This is two guys having fun, not giving a F***! The riffage is insane on this album, with a lot more influence than some may think. It blows Eternal Hails (Or Eternal Fails, as I call it) out of the water. I'm a fan of them through and through, although they released some mediocre albums in the Moonfog days. (Satyr is a diva.) Old Star actually places third on my rankings of top Darkthrone albums, right behind Blaze and Funeral Moon. I also love the crust-era stuff, with the exception of The Cult is Alive. Many of the aspects of Astral Fortress can be rooted to Panzerfaust, with old metal influences. I'll admit that it took me a few listens for this album to grow on me, and it's really grown on me! Darkthrone might not be your thing, and I respect that. However, to break it down the way you did is just dumb and ignorant on so many levels. You probably also think that Satyricon's first three albums suck and love everything else that came afterwards. Your favorite Emperor album is probably Prometheus. In the words of Darkthrone themselves from a previous album, "Do you really even know what metal really means?" Personally I think this album is too short. It needs one more song. That being said, before bashing it, I truly feel that you need to listen a few more times to really wrap your head around it and hear it for what it is.
Best Emperor album is Anthems, Satyricon is super overrated, and I'm well aware of what metal is and means. Feel free to pretend I'm dumb and ignorant though, since that clearly helps you cope.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial I apologize for being as harsh as I was in my original comment. I just really love this album, as someone that grew up with the old stuff. I get it. Darkthrone is easy to rip on because they change so much from year to year. That's what I love about them. Nightside is Emperor's best album, btw. Call me a purist, an elitist or whatever. These last couple of Darkthrone albums take a few listens to really enjoy. Where Old Star was a masterpiece that I fell in love with right away. My girlfriend and I put together a top ten every year, and this isn't one of them. Because it's not black metal. Is it one of the albums of the year for me? I'll say yes. I feel bad for my original comment, and I in no way meant to disrespect you. Opinion is just that. Keep doing what you're doing and have fun with it.
@@swampcrypt Astral Fortress was my favorite album of 2022. The only reason it didn't make my top ten black metal albums is because Darkthrone does what they want, and they are on a level where no matter what they do, even "Eternal Fails," is just what they do. Bands evolve, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Darkthrone evolves however they want, and I respect them for that. My top three albums are Funeral Moon, Blaze, and Old Star. And to be honest, this guy wasn't even a sperm cell at the time Darkthrone released the Unholy Trinity.
@@swampcrypt I wasn't huge on Eternal. Old Star is genius! Astral Fortress is what Eternal should have been, but it was what we say "testing the waters."
@@themetalmeltdownofficial It's the second of the Leviathan trilogy. They've one more for next year. Personally think this new one is as good as the last.
"Astral Fortress" certainly not their best but for me black metal is Darkthrone - don't think Mayhem, Burzum & Bathory ever reached the heights of "Transilvanian Hunger" and "Panzerfaust"
true - I enjoed this album only as beginner BM guitarist - I can see it is within my reach to write and play like this . I am very close. so I sort of liked it. But by any strech I would not listen to it - so much more better music around
I think this album is great...better than Eternal Hails in my opinion. The riffs are catchy as hell and theres alot of variety, homage to all types of heavy metal and alot of atmosphere. It gets better with more listens. Old Star is a little better maybe but its better than alotbof their records.
i like darkthrone but i have always perfered immortal because musically immortal is better than darkthrone darkthrone is alright i do love early black metal darkthrone shame on you robert for hating on early black metal darkthrone
Dude, the vocals on this album are not Fenriz'! They are Nocturno Culto's..... (with a bit of Fenris back-up)! If you don't "get" the Unholy Trinity (Blaze, Funural Moon and Transyvanian) .... and you prefer Soulside Journey....then I guess you dont get Darkthrone entirely... And imo you are not qualified to reveiw them.... ok you can....of course, but it's not a meaningful reveiw....
Thought it was fine, I heard worse Darkthrone albums but yeah, this one isn't anything special. I actually saw plenty of people heralding it as one of their best and like, to each their own, sure, but I really don't hear that
I feel the same...doesn't cut it for me after the first spin...and similarly to the previous two records, I don't feel I want to listen to it again...another record in this direction would be too much of a "fuck off" from Gylve and Ted...
Oh dear! 😆It doesn't feel that long since their last album. I think the album cover is lame - some random guy in a ski jacket walking in snow could have been made a bit more imaginative, perhaps have a hooded ghost figure or some evil demon lizard thing in his place
I like the album....it is not because metal meltdown says its a bad album than ita a bad album, to each their own. Depends on the mood you are in and what you expect from an album. You might like it one day and hate it the day after. Music is music and people are people you know 😉
DarkThrone has not been a black metal band since Transylvania Hunger and most of their releases have been uninteresting cash grabs. Soulside Journey, one of my favorites of theirs, sounds like Entombed and was a good Death Metal record and then they did the Black Metal trilogy starting with Blaze, Under, and Transylvania Hunger and have basically been putting out boring albums ever since and living on reputation only. The same could be said for Mayhem except with far less releases. I like those early second wave Norwegian Black metal records for what they represent but none are still doing anything interesting except maybe Enslaved, but I rarely listen to them either.
@@gabrielesquaratti5709 Darkthrone hasn't made a good album in 25 yrs, so I would say they are all cash grabs to keep the name out there. And, since the last pure black metal album was Transylvania Hunger are people still hoping they'll go back to their roots or are they happy with them just releasing a sh*tty album every couple years.
Yeah haaaaard disagree there, been so much killer black metal since the 90s. Tribulation, Wolves In The Throne Room, Falls Of Rauros, Panopticon, Black Anvil, Spectral Wound, Devil Master, Gaerea, Vehemence, etc. Plus older bands like Enslaved, Behemoth, Watain, Blut Aus Nord, Seth and more are still on a roll.
You basically voiced my thoughts about the album after my first listen. Pretty disappointed with this one. I thought Eternal Hails was pretty good but I really liked Old Star. This one lost my attention a number of times
Felt a little low interest as I listened to this album as well. Maybe something to play in the background as you do something else - which isn’t really a big compliment 😢
I always wonder if they have some kind of resistance to just making old school BM, as if it is some kind of unneeded statement against the state of BM or what it became. They could truly and should just make stuff like the trinity. Many bands of many genres have just gone back and cranked out amazing stuff. Look at what CF did with Monotheist. They may be just acting too cool [for image which they deny they have] in a world where it doesn't matter. Two guys freezing in the middle of nowhere-get off your ego trip......BM means nothing in the world, stop the character denial and make something bad ass already.
I dont really hear BLACK METAL in this album at all. Not even one furious riff, no atmosphere at all. Even the early BM bands had both of those. This is just some forced crap to fill their recording contract. Now they can again sell thousands of colored LP records for hyped fanboys and cash the cheque
This is definitely one of the most uninteresting records I've ever heard. The second song sounds easier to play than Zombie, the repetitive and lazy writing is laughable.
stop calling this kind of music simplistic, just listen to Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Immortal,Taake, doommy stoner heavy hitters like Conan, Bongripper, Electric Wizard, Dopelord, classic death metal like Obituary, Grave, Bolt Thrower and many more ,all the classics old school good music is simple and heavy. i thing you are busy riding that cheesy and trandy behemoth train😆 btw i hit dislike just for you not for Darkthrone 🤣
I mean yeah I get it ..not the best album however it's grows on ya , and it's not that awful as everyone is making to be , I mean soul side journey was the darkthrone album and sure this is nothing of the sort however I think not horrible aye 🤘😋👊
I can say this to people if you didn’t care for Eternal Hails or Oldstar you will not care for this new Darkthrone album. That being said those are my 2 Favorite Darkthrone albums since Panzerfaust, A Blaze in the Northern Sky, Transylvanian Hunger. Absolutely love the Black Sabbath and 1st Wave Black Metal influence. I think maybe some songs go on for too long maybe but other than that I really enjoy it 4/5.
I'm a sucker for Darkthrone. I can't help it nor can I really explain it. It's just good old reliable metal that's not remarkable enough to require a lot of energy to listen to, but not offensively bad enough to wanna turn off. There's a charm to the cheekiness of it. Couldn't tell you why, but I keep coming back.
This for me lol. 100% this
interesting take
i ADORED this album and its honest to god maybe my 2nd fav by the band!!
but yeah there are def bits where they drone on for too long...
overall i think i would give it a flat 8/10
I get why it's hit or miss, as long as it's not the annoying "they're not kvlt anymore," but I think Darkthrone is what any band should hope to be. They're friends who make stuff they want to make, not for others, and it never feels disingenuous. And it's still loved and anticipated by many.
It’s fine for a doom styled album. I don’t think we needed a new album in just a year
Watching this after seeing Thralls of Metal's review. You and Necrotic Nick have two completely different interpretations of this record. I appreciate it though. I love this record but I get what you are saying about it droning on and being one dimensional. I mostly like Darkthrone's newer material though so this is pretty much what I expect when I reach for them anyway. To me this record is pretty par for the course with Old star and Eternal Hails which I love.
This is definitely one of the albums of all time, it has guitars, bass, drum, vocals, riffs, solos, and most importantly, lyrics, truly one of the albums of 2022
I Was beyond bored by the end of this thing and im glad i only listened to it once and didn't touched it with a 10 foot long poll after, 0.5/5
Livestream will be fun! I will try to be there but I don’t know how busy I’ll be. As for this album, I absolutely adore Darkthrone and all of their phases of their career whether that’s the early death metal, 2nd wave black metal stuff, or their crust punk stuff, and even the more modern black metal with heavy metal influence and some doom influence. I really love it all go be honest, and I really enjoyed this new album for what it is, because I really love this style. I’d give it a 3.5/5, but as I mentioned above, I’m biased as hell in favor of Darkthrone lol
Can't argue with you here. My bias in favor of Darkthrone is strong though and I find some enjoyment here.
I can see where you are coming from, even if I have become a huge Darkthrone fan over the past couple years. I love that they aren't bending to trends and doing their own thing. To me, this new Darkthrone record--their 20th overall--is better than Eternal Hails....... Their current sound just has this charm akin to watching your cool stoner metalhead uncles playing in a garage somewhere that I happen to like and enjoy. It's very similar to the charm that a band like cult legends Manilla Road tends to give off (another one of my favourite groups).
Darkthrone is my favourite of the Norwegians; manilla Road is my favourite metal band.
I do think the latter displays more skill and tightness in their songs and playing, but also get why you say they have a somewaht similar vibe 9at times)...and of course we all know Darkthrone sold their souls to them, anyway.
Was gonna check this album out just from the beautiful album cover...
Honestly The Underground Resistance might be my favorite Darkthrone album I love how catchy that shit is.
Nice to know I'm not alone in this lmao
I have to say that I always like Darkthrone, they are the band that started me into black metal so many years ago. I do love their first album for sure… I’ll admit lately these newer Darkthrone albums have to grow on me for quite awhile before I like these albums. Also, this album will have to grow on me for a while. Never know what these guys are gonna do on each album these days. As a guitarist I like the riffage on seas, but agree it doesn’t have to be so long. Eon 2 seemed a bit lazy to me. I can go on forever about this 😂 pretty much found out about this album coming out yesterday because I thought it was coming out later this month (November) lastly, You’re not in trouble with me about your review of this album. I’ll see how much this album grows on me. The Cult is Alive is my favorite of their crust punk era, but sometimes the crust punk sorta made me cringe here and there. Take care Brother and good seeing ya, it has been a long time!
Well man! I don't think you'll get in trouble -- I don't think Darkthrone fans are Five Finger Deathpunch fans or even Pantera fans. is that disappointing? haha
Now, these guys are my favourite of all the Norwegian black metal lot by a considerable margin. I don't think they've ever made a truly bad album; some of them are truly great and nearly al of them are stacked full of killer riffs. You're right that they seem to ahve problems with transitions in their songs and have done for a bit now. The riffs and vibe are still great for me though and I'm looking forward to hearing this one. You said right at the beginning that you don't really 8get* something about Darkthrone (sorry, can't remember exactly what your words were), and you use words like "iconic" to describe them -- true, yes, but also kind of a safely detached adjective that shows you just don't connect with them the way some people do. I persoanlly would never start someone off with Transilvanian Hunger -- great album but not one I play too often because of its single-minded approach. I will say i'ts very nice to hear you express positivity toward the "crust punk" albums. I said this in a comment to Thralls' video on this record but, my perhaps controversial take is that I honestly don't think Darkthrone ever changed that much -- it's just the same influences they've always had, juggled around and moved about, and if you like, with a little different seasoning sprinkled on the main dish (you know i love your food analogies).
I think Darkthrone fans now know exactly what the band is. Just a couple of pretty down-to-earth, relaxed dudes makin the music they like. We know this and we accept it. We're here for the riffs and weird quirky things like Fenriz's bizarre vocal choices. Are their new albums perfect masterpieces? Hell no. Still pretty ace though. I personally would like them to try a different songwriting approach, working in closer collaboration on their music. Right now, from what I read, they each come to the table with their own songs taht they've already written. Fenriz's songs are a bit simplistic and Nocturno's have the awkward transitions. maybe they could cancel out each other's weaknesses. But I don't know -- maybe they have already tried this or whatever; i don't have real insight into their process.
well said dude! this zenial reviewer loves kittie n new dying fetus so his review is blah blah blah to me...
@@NERDYGAMETURDY Wait...did he review Zemial too?
Never heard of Zemial so probably not lmao
@@themetalmeltdownofficial Nykta is a fantastic album, and In Monumentum almost does Bathory better than Bathory *shh*
I think darkthrone could benefit of having one or two more members in the band so more ideas can be proposed I think other black metal bands could benefit as well
Solid idea but I can't picture that happening
I love it first listen. Respect your opinion though
Darkthrone is one of my favorite bands in black metal and I thought that this new album was decent. I still think the previous two albums Old Star and Eternal Hails are better but it's still decent. The only thing that's super off-putting is the album cover.
Yeah the cover seems uninspired to say the least.
To me, Darkthrone added onto everything that has made Black Metal as good as it has been. A good ole classic band is what I think we needed. Granted, it's far from the best album the Black Metal scene has seen this year, but it's still pretty good. Side note The Sea Beneath The Seas Of The Sea is a fucking tongue twister and a repetitive song title, my LORD
Glad you got more out of it than me bud, cheers.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial Yeah, Darkthrone I think have officially won me over as a fan. Although if anyone disappointed by this wants Blackened Doom Metal, I believe Worm put out an EP yesterday as well...
Oh I'm well aware, been jamming it a lot the past few days. Killer shit.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial Absolutely, same here
I appreciate your take. "Impeccable" is probably my favorite track on the album. I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but Darkthrone is the one band I pay attention to. I also enjoyed the previous two albums.
What genre? This has moved from black metal to some lame cross over
Given it a couple of listens, I'm not enjoying it as much as Eternal Hails...... but its still a solid LP. Loving the guitar solos, synths, and other new things they've added. As far as I'm concerned, this run of albums since Arctic Thunder is better than the Unholy Trinity.
Now THAT is a hell of a bold take
@@themetalmeltdownofficial I'm just saying, A Blaze is not a great listening experience because half of it was repurposed death metal material that doesn't work with the black metal production. Then Under a Funeral Moon is fine but has, for my ears, unbearably bad production. I love Transilvanian Hunger though.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial That being said, I was a little disappointed by this LP, one that let me down a bit this year, just like my girl Carly Rae Jepsen did not deliver on her new album :(
@@themetalmeltdownofficial Just wanted to say, thanks very much Robert for reviewing this latest LP from Darkthrone "Astral Fortress". Another great & honest review. No bullshit, tell it like it is. I highly respect your opinion. Gives me some idea of what to expect. You're like a Metal Yoda. "The Force Is Strong With This One" or not. Man, u had me hanging on every word you said. I was absolutely enthralled. It was intense watching until the glorious climax of this review. Brilliant. Just remember, whenever you hve moments of self doubt that you're heading in the right direction down the metal path, that there'll always be someone who appreciates your time & effort it takes to make these videos for the metal masses. One of the greatest minds in metal today. We are truly blessed. We're not worthy! Cheers man. 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻
@@SuperRoo_22 God damn, you are far too kind bud. Glad you enjoyed this so much, cheers to you as well.
i liked it. I stopped thinking of them as a black metal band a long time ago. i just think of them as an AC/DC style band. they just do some simple stuff. and somehow it works for me. its just a good time.
Uh... love your channel agree on most of your takes if you are not bringing in this millenial boomer crap, but i Stick with necroticnick on this one i guess. Really enjoy this Album awesome riffs, interesting production, yes 4 out of 5 for me. So, more power to me😉
See? Just lookinga t the comments now. Darkthrone guys are so chill.
Is a fucking good album!!!
I only needed to hear the review up to the expected comment of "...I've never really understood the appeal of Darkthrone".
I’ll be there with all my party power 🎉 🍻🍻 can’t wait!
It is darkthrone they never disappoint
This album is absolute brilliant like most Darkthrone stuff. The lazy riff you mention on Impeccable is not even Celtic Frost based, it is Hellhammer, it is simple on purpose for sure, the dimensions it creates is awesome. The fact that most riffs don't have different tails on different bars is killer, it creates the vibe that Black Sabbath started and lots of bands followed. Later when guitar players started having tons of different tails for riffs things just got boring. Sometimes simple is genius. Darkthrone knows how to do it.
I always thought Nocturno did the vocals...
I genuinely dont care
He does most of them, but they share vocal duties. Fenriz usually does the kind of clean warbling, high pitched singing, etc. he'sg ot the higher voice and sometimes you hear him do a Tom Warrior impression on other songs, too.
that album cover looks weird
You look weird.
;)
Very Punkish cd cover.
@@astralmass wow what an insult
It's a compliment around these parts.
I look weird as fuck too.
Gonna play some Mario Kart.
@@astralmass LMFAo
Great album 👌 👏 👍🏾 🤟🤟🤟
In my time away, I've come to appreciate Black Metal a lot more and have found many albums that I really enjoy: Silence is Eternal by Vredensdal, Alpenpässe by Minenwerfer, and even early Darkthrone albums. I'm still more a Death Metal fan, so Soulside Journey, being the most closely alligned with my musical taste, is my favorite Darkthrone album. But Astral Fortress is just not good and I consider myself a Darkthrone fan.
Superb album
Wait am i the only one whos obsessed with astral fortress
Album is a future classic.......
I’d send you horrific threats and mean words, but I’m elbows deep in poutine and feel too sluggish.
Great review, brother 👍🏻
Good poutine do that to a dude sometimes
I personally don't think you get what this album is supposed to be. Darkthrone does what they want, and don't care what anyone thinks. I actually really enjoyed this album. And the fact that you mentioned Fenriz as vocalist goes to show that you know little about the band to begin with. Ted has always been the main vocalist in their ventures, with Gylve only backing up with clean vocals at times, and only on certain albums. This is two guys having fun, not giving a F***! The riffage is insane on this album, with a lot more influence than some may think. It blows Eternal Hails (Or Eternal Fails, as I call it) out of the water. I'm a fan of them through and through, although they released some mediocre albums in the Moonfog days. (Satyr is a diva.)
Old Star actually places third on my rankings of top Darkthrone albums, right behind Blaze and Funeral Moon. I also love the crust-era stuff, with the exception of The Cult is Alive. Many of the aspects of Astral Fortress can be rooted to Panzerfaust, with old metal influences. I'll admit that it took me a few listens for this album to grow on me, and it's really grown on me!
Darkthrone might not be your thing, and I respect that. However, to break it down the way you did is just dumb and ignorant on so many levels. You probably also think that Satyricon's first three albums suck and love everything else that came afterwards. Your favorite Emperor album is probably Prometheus. In the words of Darkthrone themselves from a previous album, "Do you really even know what metal really means?" Personally I think this album is too short. It needs one more song. That being said, before bashing it, I truly feel that you need to listen a few more times to really wrap your head around it and hear it for what it is.
Best Emperor album is Anthems, Satyricon is super overrated, and I'm well aware of what metal is and means. Feel free to pretend I'm dumb and ignorant though, since that clearly helps you cope.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial I apologize for being as harsh as I was in my original comment. I just really love this album, as someone that grew up with the old stuff. I get it. Darkthrone is easy to rip on because they change so much from year to year. That's what I love about them. Nightside is Emperor's best album, btw. Call me a purist, an elitist or whatever. These last couple of Darkthrone albums take a few listens to really enjoy. Where Old Star was a masterpiece that I fell in love with right away. My girlfriend and I put together a top ten every year, and this isn't one of them. Because it's not black metal. Is it one of the albums of the year for me? I'll say yes.
I feel bad for my original comment, and I in no way meant to disrespect you. Opinion is just that. Keep doing what you're doing and have fun with it.
@@swampcrypt Astral Fortress was my favorite album of 2022. The only reason it didn't make my top ten black metal albums is because Darkthrone does what they want, and they are on a level where no matter what they do, even "Eternal Fails," is just what they do. Bands evolve, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Darkthrone evolves however they want, and I respect them for that. My top three albums are Funeral Moon, Blaze, and Old Star. And to be honest, this guy wasn't even a sperm cell at the time Darkthrone released the Unholy Trinity.
@@swampcrypt I wasn't huge on Eternal. Old Star is genius! Astral Fortress is what Eternal should have been, but it was what we say "testing the waters."
@@swampcrypt Oh there are a few for me. The Moonfog days were a little sad.
Album is 2/5; however album artwork is 5/5. Black metal and ice skating go together like ketchup on fries!
Off topic. What do you think of the new Therion?
Didnt even know they had a new one out, so no comment
@@themetalmeltdownofficial It's the second of the Leviathan trilogy. They've one more for next year. Personally think this new one is as good as the last.
I forgot about that
Great album
"Astral Fortress" certainly not their best but for me black metal is Darkthrone - don't think Mayhem, Burzum & Bathory ever reached the heights of "Transilvanian Hunger" and "Panzerfaust"
true - I enjoed this album only as beginner BM guitarist - I can see it is within my reach to write and play like this . I am very close. so I sort of liked it. But by any strech I would not listen to it - so much more better music around
I think this album is great...better than Eternal Hails in my opinion. The riffs are catchy as hell and theres alot of variety, homage to all types of heavy metal and alot of atmosphere. It gets better with more listens. Old Star is a little better maybe but its better than alotbof their records.
Anything post Transylvanian Hunger is whacc
I like it =)
sounds like Midnight kinda style music
Darkthrone haven't been Black Metal since 1997. This is a doom album. Celtic Frost meets Black Sabbath.
i like darkthrone but i have always perfered immortal because musically immortal is better than darkthrone darkthrone is alright i do love early black metal darkthrone shame on you robert for hating on early black metal darkthrone
Honestly I prefer nocturno Cultos side project Sarke
they played as old school as possible. vocals are PERFECT. i call it an excellent album
Terrible cover though.
@@Assimilator702 oh i liked it. It maches the atmosphere of the album.
I agree COMPLETELY with your assessment of this album. "Pretty poor, pretty not good"
Can I get a Happy Birthday dude, turned 41 yesterday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUD, make sure to party extra hard this weekend.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial 👊🥳 much appreciated 🍺🍺🍺🍺 definitely.
Review worm next bluenothing mini album ep
I disagree it was better than the last album sorry if you didn't like it dude 😕
4/5
Dude, the vocals on this album are not Fenriz'! They are Nocturno Culto's..... (with a bit of Fenris back-up)!
If you don't "get" the Unholy Trinity (Blaze, Funural Moon and Transyvanian) .... and you prefer Soulside Journey....then I guess you dont get Darkthrone entirely...
And imo you are not qualified to reveiw them.... ok you can....of course, but it's not a meaningful reveiw....
you have no idea.
Yeah, I'll stick with Psychonaut instead...
I disagree but I’m not being shown in the next drinking game so I will not say anything
Yyyyeahhhh I'm gonna listen to that new Dead Cross instead thanks.
Smart
I think I smell a drinking game coming 😅
Lmao I wish, been a while since we had some spicy black metal nerd rage. But nope...
The idea of merging raw black metal and doom doesn't sound good to me. I respect the guys, but it seems like a chore
Thought it was fine, I heard worse Darkthrone albums but yeah, this one isn't anything special. I actually saw plenty of people heralding it as one of their best and like, to each their own, sure, but I really don't hear that
I feel the same...doesn't cut it for me after the first spin...and similarly to the previous two records, I don't feel I want to listen to it again...another record in this direction would be too much of a "fuck off" from Gylve and Ted...
2/5 I’ll stick to the holy trinity
This is some serious "Morbius is a bad movie" behavior.
Oh dear! 😆It doesn't feel that long since their last album. I think the album cover is lame - some random guy in a ski jacket walking in snow could have been made a bit more imaginative, perhaps have a hooded ghost figure or some evil demon lizard thing in his place
Eternal Hails was amazing, but the album cover on this is dumb!
Also, 7:59, Jeez, Meltdown! Have you seen Necrotic Nick's review? He gave it 4 stars!
Ok, good for him. Agree to disagree.
I like the album....it is not because metal meltdown says its a bad album than ita a bad album, to each their own. Depends on the mood you are in and what you expect from an album. You might like it one day and hate it the day after. Music is music and people are people you know 😉
A lot better than eternal hails but not nearly as good as old star or arctic thunder
DarkThrone has not been a black metal band since Transylvania Hunger and most of their releases have been uninteresting cash grabs. Soulside Journey, one of my favorites of theirs, sounds like Entombed and was a good Death Metal record and then they did the Black Metal trilogy starting with Blaze, Under, and Transylvania Hunger and have basically been putting out boring albums ever since and living on reputation only. The same could be said for Mayhem except with far less releases. I like those early second wave Norwegian Black metal records for what they represent but none are still doing anything interesting except maybe Enslaved, but I rarely listen to them either.
how can they release cashgrabs while majority of their fans want a pure black metal album? this makes no sense.
@@gabrielesquaratti5709 Darkthrone hasn't made a good album in 25 yrs, so I would say they are all cash grabs to keep the name out there. And, since the last pure black metal album was Transylvania Hunger are people still hoping they'll go back to their roots or are they happy with them just releasing a sh*tty album every couple years.
Black metal peaked in the 90s. Its all downhill from there 😴
Theres still many good ones over the last decade. This year alone had a few. Gudsforladt, Gaerea, White Ward, Tómarúm..
Yeah haaaaard disagree there, been so much killer black metal since the 90s. Tribulation, Wolves In The Throne Room, Falls Of Rauros, Panopticon, Black Anvil, Spectral Wound, Devil Master, Gaerea, Vehemence, etc. Plus older bands like Enslaved, Behemoth, Watain, Blut Aus Nord, Seth and more are still on a roll.
You basically voiced my thoughts about the album after my first listen. Pretty disappointed with this one. I thought Eternal Hails was pretty good but I really liked Old Star. This one lost my attention a number of times
LMOA
👍👍💪🤟😜
Felt a little low interest as I listened to this album as well. Maybe something to play in the background as you do something else - which isn’t really a big compliment 😢
lmao for black metal, definitely not
Yeah this one's kinda slow and boring. Sounds a lot like Celtic Frost but not as good. Love the silly album cover though.
Would much rather just go listen to Celtic Frost, significantly more interesting.
Meme band is back again
Everything after Sardonic Wrath is a total fail!
DARKTHRONE!!!! Mehhh
I always wonder if they have some kind of resistance to just making old school BM, as if it is some kind of unneeded statement against the state of BM or what it became. They could truly and should just make stuff like the trinity. Many bands of many genres have just gone back and cranked out amazing stuff. Look at what CF did with Monotheist. They may be just acting too cool [for image which they deny they have] in a world where it doesn't matter. Two guys freezing in the middle of nowhere-get off your ego trip......BM means nothing in the world, stop the character denial and make something bad ass already.
A 2/5 means its a bad record.
I dont really hear BLACK METAL in this album at all. Not even one furious riff, no atmosphere at all. Even the early BM bands had both of those. This is just some forced crap to fill their recording contract. Now they can again sell thousands of colored LP records for hyped fanboys and cash the cheque
It's not supposed to be black metal
Honestly I found it pretty mid
This dudes a soft poser. If you don’t like this album, you don’t know real metal.
Lmao if you say so baby.
Dude literally made this account in less than a day ago. Congrats. You played yourself
bad take
Cope
Can't win them all mate.
This is definitely one of the most uninteresting records I've ever heard. The second song sounds easier to play than Zombie, the repetitive and lazy writing is laughable.
Dud 👎🏻👎🏻
You did not give this record enough time before you reviewed it. You are not good.
Cry harder
@@swampcrypt It isn't but feel free to think that if you like.
stop calling this kind of music simplistic, just listen to Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Immortal,Taake, doommy stoner heavy hitters like Conan, Bongripper, Electric Wizard, Dopelord, classic death metal like Obituary, Grave, Bolt Thrower and many more ,all the classics old school good music is simple and heavy. i thing you are busy riding that cheesy and trandy behemoth train😆 btw i hit dislike just for you not for Darkthrone 🤣
Just for me? Aw how sweet of you 😘
Booo! 😅
I really haven't loved any darkthrone record since Panzerfaust. Old star is....good...but lots of meh in-between.
You don't like early Celtic Frost sound aye? Pretty lame opinion
I dig Celtic Frost, just not this 🤷♀️
Total dud. Like all of their releases since their initial few that gave them an ego
I mean yeah I get it ..not the best album however it's grows on ya , and it's not that awful as everyone is making to be , I mean soul side journey was the darkthrone album and sure this is nothing of the sort however I think not horrible aye 🤘😋👊