Their sound never lacks grit or darkness, but there is a definite increase in scope here, particularly on the vast black/doom/heavy metal/prog rock The Sea Beneath The Seas Of The Sea. Remember when Nemtheanga did Twilight Of The Gods and took his grandiose darkness from Primordial and created something epic and yet still heavy? Well, we’re not quite there yet but Astral Fortress is a step closer to that than I thought it would be. We’re definitely deep into classic Celtic Frost territory here though, Nocturno‘s voice even sounds a little Tom G. Warrior-esque at times and the music could fit on To Mega Therion with very few changes.
Kevorkian Times is the most true black metal song here, a necrotic thrust of crust punk/d-beat riffs and snarling vocals that reminds you that there’s still a kick in the old dog yet, while the eerie interlude of Koboltn, West Of The Vast Forest could sit somewhere on a Deathspell Omega record and not seem out of place. Closing with Eon 2, a nod back to their ‘death metal’ debut Soulside Journey‘s final track and a deathly heavy metal stomper, if anyone ever tells you that modern Darkthrone isn’t as essential as their classic trilogy, they’re out of their fucking mind.
Is it the sound they helped form and pioneer? No, not really even close. Is it the sound of a band that has no right still being this relevant and excellent after over 30 years? Yes, it is. This ‘old metal’ approach that has characterised the band’s last decade or two has left tattered classics in its wake, and Astral Fortress is just as essential as anything Darkthrone have ever crafted into those deep frozen woods. We all live in the shadow of their horns, and we will never see their likes again when they are gone.
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