Darkthrone
The cult is alive
Peaceville
I have not been following Darkthrone's career in the past, say, five years, but back in the day they were the sickest, most incredible black metal band along with Abruptum and perhaps Marduk. These dude were seriously evil. I don't know what happened there, but "The cult is alive" is considerably more rock than I ever thought this band capable of. Not just slower, but the whole thing has tinges of grarage rock, Misfits-like punk and a little bit of Samhain thrown in. It might be also the most Venom-inspired black metal album I have heard in quite some time. I guess they wanted to go back to the source. The whole album is seriously awesome as it is so unexpected, and the music ain't crap either, very good stuff. I am totally in awe.
- Simon Thibaudeau