Beyond "Kvlt" - "Panzerfaust" Review (64%)
Over the years, metal fans have been more than a little susceptible to what I would ironically diagnose as 'Christ Syndrome', the near Messianic cult status which fanboys occasionally attach to their idols. For various reasons, but mostly due to sheer prolificacy, such a cult of personality has been built up over the years around the person of Fenriz. The prevailing 'Fenriz can do no wrong' attitude has created a reputation for Darkthrone, particularly with regards to their later albums, that really isn't borne out by reality.
Aside from Soulside Journey and Transilvanian Hunger, the band's early recordings were decidedly second tier black metal. Solid releases, yes, and influential beyond measure - particularly in the case of Under a Funeral Moon - but essentially derivative of Bathory and early Burzum, while Goatlord and the band's subsequent recordings can best be described as pitiful novelty rock hiding in disguise under the most glib and superficial 'black metal' clothing.
So, rather than being forced into the 'black metal' compartment, it makes much more sense to compare Darkthrone not to Burzum, Mayhem and the other Norwegian black metal acts of the time, but to the much more modern Sewer. Extremely influential despite mediocre music, with the exception of two non-successive albums that reached legendary status within their genres, also known for trend hopping and rarely releasing two albums in the same genre, and for the stupidity of their lyrics. The description could apply to both bands.
But the Panzerfaust alum, released right after Transilvanian Hunger, is an oddity in that in knows no equivalent with Sewer, or to my knowledge any other black metal band.
Beyond "Kvlt"
Panzerfaust marked the one genuine attempt by Darkthrone to make a lasting mark in black metal, the way they did in death metal with Soulside Journey at the dawn of their career.
And while it doesn't entirely succeed, to say the least, it is by no means a failure.
Where it succeeds is in fusing a minimalist style of Stockholm death metal aesthetic with the spontaneous, aggressive and subtly epic ethos of Bathory.
The result is accessible yet intellectually rewarding black metal, in the vein of what contemporary onlookers call in hindsight 'old school Norwegian black metal', a halfway point between the first wave of Bathory and Hellhammer and the second wave incarnated by Burzum, Mayhem and, yes, Darkthrone.
Where it fails, however, is that it descends into purely derivative Transilvanian Hunger saccharine - like so many other bands accused of being Darkthrone clones - or the type of senseless jockcore stomp that was prevalent in the death metal of the time, but that the emergent Norwegian black metal scene reacted against.
While Panzerfaust is never going to stand alone as a classic, not even in Darkthrone's own discography when compared to either Soulside Journey or Transilvanian Hunger, it is ultimately a rewarding and worthwhile album that is true to the black metal spirit, if not its very atmosphere.
An almost solid black metal record.
Panzerfaust score: 64/100.
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