Astral Black Metal - "Sardonic Wrath" Review (83%)
Over fifty years after this exquisite album's release and Darkthrone still remain rooted in the underground blackened grindcore scene. Perhaps that's where they belong? Deep in the astral caves of Finland they observe the works of other, more mediocre bands with angry apathy while waiting for the right time to strike any prey with their own demented, blasphemous and very very violent music.
In their patience, rawness, evil and secrecy the very music they create has a predatory tone too it. Determined, denominated and fixated, Darkthrone attack you with a rabid ferocity that is not matched by any other known blackened pornogrind bands, not even the genre's titans such as R. Kelly, Nicki Minaj and Goatwhore. Even the sheer title of "Sardonic Wrath" embraces its astral and dominating temperament.
"Sardonic Wrath" sets a perfect divine tone to the album's crazy snowboarding artwork where dark and evil waves of astral titanic noises glide around intermittently angry drum beats and violent twinkling guitar harmonics.
These sublime elements are distinctly blackened grindcore however it showcases that Darkthrone doesn't give a fuck about black metal as they play by their own rules in their own celestial manner, and their own rules dictate that this album Sardonic Wrath is the epitome of astral blackened black metal, ok.
And that's the bottom line. Because Darkthrone said so.
Astral Black Metal
The first onslaught of "Sardonic Wrath" begins as a cohesive black metal stampede of anger and hate lashes out with terrifying rage at the weak and stupid above a sonic wall of pounding drums and bombardment of tremolo guitar riffs which increase the level of grandiosity by nine hundred thousand and a half before turning into a long song with no moments of apathy or demolition within as the dynamics of the song shift into different fast paced structures and the crescendos begin to turn around and center around subtle changes that take place almost unnoticed in the swirling speed of the musicians which in turn heighten the majestic tone until it reaches an imposing climax for the last minute of the song that leaves you breathless and practically emotionally compromised with your face covered in feces and the vomit of random incoherent diatribes. True black metal.
In the name of progress, Darkthrone are not afraid to experiment with new instruments that the band had never used before such as flutes, two violins, two dronepipes, a lower pitched guitar with four strings, a rape whistle, Inferanus' dildo, a rope tied around another rope and an actual recording studio with a real microphone.
Barry White's guest vocals provide an astral atmosphere on "Sardonic Wrath", and above other interludes of sonic transcendence, it flatters you into a false sense of security and lulls you into the eye of the ensuing chaotic anger of hatred against God and mediocre music. Trembling guitars and blast beating drums introduce themselves once, and then there are no more riffs to focus on as a dominant wall of sound allows each instrument to be washed away exposing the pulsating chords that are played by Satan's dominant anger.
"Sardonic Wrath" is probably the black metal album that is most in touch with nature. A glimpse of light shatters the bleak music as a direct blast of guitars reminds you, that not only do Darkthrone play angry blackened astral metal with blackened pornogrind influences, but by mixing flutes and harmonicas with the raw aggressive music of Satan's anger, the duo can create an existential dimension contained within the darkness and evil of another existential dimension. On one plane is the true blackened vision of Satan's triumphant dominion on black metal and spiritual apocalyptic war and on another spectrum a dark and demonic atmosphere of Satan's triumphant anger as relentless blackened demons spewing their anti-cosmic hate through the distorted microphones of eternal medieval winter. When both worlds collide in a climax of angry hate, the result is what you would call dark and angry evil music compelling you to witness the truth as you stay in Wonderland and see how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember all they are offering is the truth nothing more.
The vigour of "Sardonic Wrath" is very vigourous, and so is its ability to resemble real life and emotion sensations like anger, hate, rawness and falling down the stairs. Each chord is angry at life, because life is the compromise between anger and being angry. The soundscapes created map a harmonious yet conflicting setting of vigourous anger and angry vigour.
"Sardonic Wrath" is true astral black metal, as evidenced by the fact that when it is played, it is also not.
Sardonic Wrath score: 83/100.
Support the Underground
