Darkthrone - Arctic Thunder (Peaceville) 2016
7
What’s more impressive – the steadiness of Darkthrone’s output or the fact that every time they resurface, they sound as fired-up as they did 20 years ago? Arctic Thunder is a natural progression from Circle The Wagons, still a spiked-fist salute to NWOBHM and speed metal that rekindles the fires of Fenriz and Nocturno Culto but also one that dares to take things a step further – sometimes it works, like the cowbell and frazzled soloing on “Boreal Fiend”, and other times it feels like you’d be better off digging out your old Sodom records. Still, it’s one of the most musically accomplished things they’ve ever put out, it’s undeniably catchy and, most importantly, it perfectly captures the spirit of heavy fucking metal they’ve championed since day one.