Description
Darkthrone – Astral Fortress – Violet Vinyl Record
Limited to 1000 copies.
Released on October 28, 2022, through Peaceville Records, Astral Fortress is the 20th studio album from legendary Norwegian duo Darkthrone, comprised of Fenriz (drums, vocals, lyrics) and Nocturno Culto (guitars, bass, vocals). Emerging from the early 1990s Norwegian black metal scene, Darkthrone became iconic for albums like A Blaze in the Northern Sky (1992) and Transilvanian Hunger (1994), but in the decades since, they have evolved far beyond raw black metal, embracing heavy metal, doom, and speed metal while never abandoning their underground ethos. Astral Fortress continues that journey, serving as a love letter to old-school heavy metal while retaining the grim, atmospheric essence that defines Darkthrone.
At its core, Astral Fortress is not a polished, modern metal record—it’s intentionally raw, stripped-down, and timeless, echoing the sound of late ‘80s and early ‘90s metal. The band recorded it at Chaka Khan Studios in Oslo, with Ole Øvstedal engineering, and the mix captures a deliberately analog feel: gritty guitar tones, natural drum resonance, and an unpretentious balance that puts riffs and atmosphere at the center. Darkthrone fans know to expect this approach; Fenriz and Nocturno Culto have long rejected trends in favor of honoring the metal underground.
The album contains seven tracks, spanning over 40 minutes:
“Caravan of Broken Ghosts” opens with acoustic guitar before launching into a mid-tempo riff that blends doom and blackened textures. Its dynamic shifts set the tone for the album: spacious, riff-driven, and atmospheric.
“Impeccable Caverns of Satan” leans heavier into doom metal, with hypnotic riffs that stretch and coil, creating a trance-like mood.
“Stalagmite Necklace” ramps up the tempo with galloping rhythms, nodding to classic speed and thrash influences, showing Darkthrone’s continued love for traditional heavy metal.
“The Sea Beneath the Seas of the Sea” (a near 11-minute epic) is the centerpiece, weaving doom-laden riffs with atmospheric passages. It’s sprawling, patient, and drenched in dark atmosphere—one of the most ambitious tracks Darkthrone has put to tape in recent years.
“Kevorkian Times” dives back into mid-paced riffing, balancing aggression with brooding mood.
“Kolbotn, West of the Vast Forests” feels like a direct homage to their Norwegian roots, stripped-down and raw.
“Eon 2” closes the record with a short, sinister instrumental that ties back to Soulside Journey (1991), their debut death metal album—a deliberate Easter egg for longtime fans.
Astral Fortress is steeped in Fenriz’s love for cosmic, mythic, and darkly poetic imagery. The themes blend the occult with existential reflections, painting landscapes that feel both timeless and otherworldly. Unlike many modern metal releases, the album avoids overproduction and gimmicks, letting riffs, atmosphere, and the band’s deep respect for metal history speak for themselves.
Astral Fortress was praised for its authenticity. While some fans of Darkthrone’s early black metal purism may prefer the raw ferocity of the 1990s classics, many reviewers highlighted this album’s commitment to atmosphere and riffcraft. It sits comfortably alongside recent works like Eternal Hails…… (2021) and Old Star (2019), forming a trilogy of sorts that emphasizes slow-burn doom passages, epic song structures, and Darkthrone’s ever-present underground spirit.
In the grand scheme of their career, Astral Fortress underscores what makes Darkthrone unique: a refusal to compromise, a dedication to metal’s roots, and a continued exploration of sound without losing authenticity. For fans of Celtic Frost, Candlemass, Bathory, or early doom and black metal hybrids, this record feels both familiar and fresh—like an unearthed relic from another era, yet still burning with relevance.
When extreme metal often leans toward technical polish or genre crossovers, Darkthrone doubled down on simplicity, riffs, and atmosphere. Astral Fortress proves that heavy metal’s essence—raw, unpolished, and deeply evocative—still resonates powerfully in the modern era.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Caravan Of Broken Ghosts
Impeccable Caverns Of Satan
Stalagmite Necklace
The Sea Beneath The Seas Of The Sea
Kevorkian Times
Kolbotn, West Of The Vast Forests
Eon 2
