Review: Darkthrone – F.O.A.D. (2007)
Darkthrone, the Scandanavian black metal superstars we have all grown so fondly of (well…some of us), has released an album this year entitled F.O.A.D. which induces a mysterious reaction amongst their fanbase along with any other curious onlooker wondering what the hell it all means. The cover art pictures what appears to be an undead thrasher with a mo-hawk set around imagery that is undoubtedly black metal. So, without even listening to Darkthrone’s latest offering, people have to be wondering why Darkthrone is appearing to be not quite as black as they normally are. Will the music translate into a similar fate?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is yes. Now, I am the first person to defend artistic expression in any form that the artist deems necessary, but I am also right out in front to tell the band and anyone else reading what I think of their artistic expression. Darkthrone’s latest undertaking is basically an attempt at creating a raw crossover thrash album, which is clearly evident from the faux acronym title (which has been a bizarre staple of the thrash community for ages that no one can really explain), to the artwork….and of course, the music.
This doesn’t sound like Celtic Frost, it doesn’t sound like Sodom or any other teutonic thrash band, and it especially doesn’t sound like Bay Area thrash. No, the closest thing that can be compared to F.O.A.D. is Mayhem’s Deathcrush, with the key exception that Deathcrush is actually good. I don’t know what Darkthrone’s intentions were with this album before creating a retro thrasher, but the results are raw, harsh, incredibly boring thrash riffs that are more in toe with Motorhead that Metallica. As any extreme metal fan will tell you, raw and harsh can be good traits, as long as they are intertwined with quality songwriting. F.O.A.D. consists of 9 songs that amount to maybe garage band level in its structure.
Honestly, I can understand the band’s intentions when making this album, and many fans thus far have been digging the composure and feel of this new/old idea. Darkthrone have been around for awhile and, like any artist, wanted to change things up a bit. More power to them I say, just don’t count on me giving you praise for your efforts this time around.
EH…
Top Tracks: None
Similar Artists: Mayhem, Motorhead. Entombed
1. These Shores Are Damned
2. Canadian Metal
3. The Church Of Real Metal
4. The Banners Of Old
5. Fuck Off And Die
6. Splitkein Fever
7. Raised On Rock
8. Pervertor Of The 7 Gates
9. Wisdom Of The Dead
Nocturno Culto (Ted Skjellum) – Vocals, Guitars, Bass
Fenriz (Gylve Fenris Nagell; b. Leif Nagell) – Drums, Vocals
Peaceville Records
www.darkthrone.no
www.myspace.com/officialdarkthrone
“which is clearly evident from the faux acronym title (which has been a bizarre staple of the thrash community for ages that no one can really explain)”
It stands for FUCK OFF AND DIE you ignorant cunt
*sigh* Its not fake because it has an actual meaning, its…nevermind, you wouldn’t understand, you’re a fanboy/girl.
Completely agree, what a disappointment. If this would have been an unknown band it would have gotten 1/10 in every review (if mentioned at all) but since it’s Darkthrone it has actually gotten good reviews in several places. I respect their will to do something different but that doesn’t change the fact that the songs are really bad, sounds like they are f-ing aorund in the studio after a party. Hopefully they will shape up in the next releae, they can’t live on old merits forever…
Following them from their early rehearsal demo days as BLACK DEATH, I’ve lost interest in DARKTHRONE after “Panzerfaust”, just like with any other band of the by-then awfully standardized and sterile black metal scene. My attention was revitalized after discovering the crusty influenced “The Cult is Alive” between my daughter’s CDs. And then, attracted by the punkish cover, reminding me of a BROKEN BONES album, I grab a copy of “F.O.A.D.”. And I drowned within that sea of nihilistic riffing that brought memories of a long-gone era. What I most liked about the music is the demo quality of the recording, that lost beauty of a raw, primal, poorly-produced 8-track stuff that dominated most underground NWOBHM and early thrash albums. A dogmatically obvious choice and a tribute to those legendary times of the tape trading underground.
I’m not gonna go track-by-track here. I don’t even believe that the guys from DARKTHRONE also give a fuck about individual tracks. I’ve been to heavy rock since the mid 70ies and NWOBHM plus the 2nd wave of punk bands during the early 80ies; then thrash metal, proto-death and early uncompromising blackness. DARKTHRONE have also been through all this… from URIAH HEEP to NECROVORE and “F.O.A.D.” is the swan song of an era when purity and dedication to an uncompromised stance culminated the music.
MOTORHEAD, TANK, VENOM, WARFARE, PILEDRIVER, MEFISTO, ACID (Belg), KAAOS, PUKE, ANTI-CYMEX, MOB 47, SIEGE, DISCHARGE, REPULSION, AMEBIX, VARUKERS, DOOM, PARTISANS, SODOM, CIRITH UNGOL, CHAOTIC DISCHORD, VULCAIN, ANTISECT, CELTIC FROST, MORBID, AUNT MARY, POISON (Ger), WHIPLASH, ANARCHUS, DISORDER, CHAOS UK, RIISTETYT, HELLBASTARD, early SARCOFAGO… the list of purity is endless! New yet old DARKTHRONE pay homage to all of us raised on rock, who have been there and still haven’t surrender to the lifeless corporate scum that rules most post-90ies modern metal.
In conclusion it’s only rock ‘n’ roll as it always have been. Relentlessly old school. Sold my soul within its highs & lows for the 50 years of my life and listening to this shit is getting personal. Musical qualities? Originality? Instrumental progression? Forget it, non-compromised regression is the key here. So what if you already have a cup of that stuff before? This album is not about music dudes it’s about attitude. An utterly personal affair. If you can’t dig it then F.O.A.D.!!!
Darkthrone have already proven themselves, so there’s no reason to do same things over and over again.
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