Released during the band’s 40th anniversary year, Pre-Historic Metal is a dense, riff-heavy celebration of everything that has made Fenriz and Nocturno Culto such enduring figures in underground metal.
Darkthrone’s history is one of the most important in extreme music. Formed in Norway in 1986 under the name Black Death, the band originally played death metal before reinventing themselves with 1992’s A Blaze in the Northern Sky, one of the foundational albums of the second wave of black metal. Alongside early releases by Mayhem, Emperor, and Burzum, Darkthrone’s raw sound, lo-fi production, and hostile atmosphere created the blueprint for what “true Norwegian black metal” would become. Yet what separated Darkthrone from many of their peers was their refusal to stand still. Over the decades they absorbed crust punk, speed metal, doom, classic heavy metal, and even traditional rock influences into their sound, all while maintaining the primitive spirit that made them legendary in the first place.
That long evolution reaches another fascinating stage on Pre-Historic Metal. Fenriz described the album as “old style to create something new,” and that perfectly summarizes its appeal. The record sounds ancient and fresh at the same time. It is packed with the sort of giant, memorable riffs that dominated heavy metal in the 1980s, but delivered with Darkthrone’s unmistakable grime-covered production and barbaric intensity. Instead of chasing modern black metal’s increasingly polished and symphonic tendencies, Darkthrone dig deeper into the roots of the genre, reconnecting black metal with the primitive power of early Celtic Frost, Bathory, and Hellhammer.
The title track, Pre-Historic Metal, is the obvious centerpiece and one of the strongest songs the band has written in years. It stomps forward with swagger and conviction, combining punk energy with enormous doom-laden guitar work. The riff feels instantly classic, while Nocturno Culto’s weathered rasp gives the song an almost mythic atmosphere. There is something wonderfully unapologetic about the track: it sounds like two veterans reminding the world that metal does not need gimmicks or technical excess to feel powerful.
Another standout is Siberian Thaw, a slower and more expansive piece that showcases the band’s mastery of pacing. The song crawls forward like a glacier breaking apart, gradually layering riffs until it reaches an almost hypnotic momentum. This track especially highlights Darkthrone’s doom influences, recalling the atmosphere of Black Sabbath while still sounding uniquely Scandinavian and frostbitten. It is one of the album’s most immersive moments.
The Dry Wells Of Hell may be the album’s darkest track. The song balances bleakness and groove in a way few modern black metal bands can manage. Rather than relying on endless blast beats, Darkthrone understand the value of restraint. The slower tempo allows the riffs to breathe, creating a suffocating atmosphere that feels genuinely ominous. It is proof that heaviness is often more effective than speed.
One of the album’s surprises is So I Marched To The Sunken Empire, a shorter, punchier song driven by crust punk energy. It injects the record with urgency and reminds listeners of the band’s punk side, something that has been central to their music since the early 2000s. Meanwhile, Eon 4 closes the album on a triumphant note, combining eerie melody with massive guitar hooks. Fans online have already compared parts of the song to classic King Diamond-inspired heavy metal, and the comparison makes sense.
What makes Pre-Historic Metal especially satisfying is how natural it feels. Many legacy metal bands either attempt to recreate their early classics or awkwardly modernize their sound. Darkthrone avoid both traps. This album does not try to be Transilvanian Hunger again, nor does it chase contemporary black metal trends. Instead, it sounds like the work of musicians completely comfortable with their identity. There is a warmth and authenticity to the album that makes it surprisingly inviting despite its abrasive exterior.
Within the black metal scene, Darkthrone now occupy a unique position. They are not simply pioneers; they are survivors. While many second-wave bands became trapped by nostalgia or controversy, Darkthrone evolved into elder statesmen of underground metal without losing credibility. They still embody the DIY ethos and anti-commercial spirit that black metal originally represented, but they have also become proof that the genre can age gracefully without sacrificing intensity.
Donnie’s Rating: 8.5/10
