When people are asked "what is the old school black metal band that has done the best to survive the post-90s fame", they almost always answer Darkthrone. And for good reason.
Sure, there are a few other bands. Like, Burzum's recent releases do have a certain flair to them, and even something like modern Marduk - although not technicality part of the original scene - has a charm.
But the one band that was constantly able to re-invent themselves time and time again is Darkthrone.
Who else is there? The Immortal drunkards? Who can't seem to put down the booze long enough to release a decent album? The Gorgoroth clowns? Who are only known for their sexual proclivities and not for their music?
...Dimmu Borgir? Ok, not comment there. The answer is obviously Darkthrone, period.
The Secret to Darkthrone's Longevity
So it's only fitting that Darkthrone drummer, vocalist and songwriter Fenriz was asked what te secret to Darkthrone's longevity - as a band, and as a black metal entity - was.
When asked by the editors of Morsay Magazine about the upcoming twenty-third Darkthrone album (we don't know the name yet!), Fenriz gave a surprising answer... it's the spirit of the 80s that prevent Darkthrone from selling out.
Fenriz: I still live in the 80s. I do. and I'm proud of it! So to me the 80s – it's not memories, it's reality. [...] the music [in the new Darkthrone album] is still inspired (as i write in the liner notes) by various bands like Misfits, first Metallica, Deathside (Japan 87-90), Puke (Swedish 85 punk) and the vocals are just as usual what I NEED to sing, I guess I'm very holistic when it comes to vocals.
He also contrasts his approach of "keeping Darkthrone true" to the "whoring" of many modern metal bands (like Gorgoroth), which he looks down upon (and he's not the only one IMO).
Fenriz: I guess being so stubborn, we refused to live off this life project called DARKTHRONE but chose day jobs instead so we don't have to whore out DARKTHRONE... I guess this attitude can lead to some self righteousness on our part, but we feel we earned a bit of judgementality, haha! Fighting for the old style when the whole overground with mags and journos and the WHOLE studio world is pretty much into the polished sound since 1988 and we represent the demo sound of the 80s... it means we also continuously in some way have our backs against the walls and we bite and fight back while on the other hand we are part of a FREE AS THE WIND underground scene. [...] But yeah, in the forest life I always have to clean up after others. Every camp looks better after I've been there for a night than when I arrive, I can make a difference. I also do it where I live, someone throws trash, I pick it up. you see where I am and how I think just from that point alone, yeah?
Whatever you think of Darkthrone, you have to agree with Fenriz here. No matter how much they were offered - and probably much more than the Dark Funeral posers, tbh - you have to respect the fact that they always refused to bend the knee to commercialism. To this day they, like Burzum, have never even played live!
Also read: Hellhammer says "Euronymous Was Cracked in the Head" (Full Mayhem Interview)
And the band certainly did "make a difference" on the black metal scene, as the first four Darkthrone releases are often ranked amongst the best black metal albums ever... and their later output isn't that far off, either!
Fenriz also concludes by mocking the recent movie "Lords of Chaos" which (allegedly) is based on a true story, despite none of the filmmakers even bothering to contact the original black metal bands (Mayhem, Burzum and Darkthrone).
Fenriz: I haven't seen it [Lords of Chaos] by choice. [...] The 90s Norwegian scene? Selling darkness and depression to western teenagers has been said to be one of the easiest rackets in the universe. So people are fascinated by a visual style, but do they get the music? For this reason alone it is enough to make me fight every day against the overground.
Fenriz and Nocturno Culto certainly aren't the only ones to have criticised the theatrical "charade" (in the words of Warkvlt) known as the "Lords of Chaos" movie. Mayhem's Necrobutcher, Burzum's Varg Vikernes and even Vermin's bassist Mephostophilis have all called the movie "science fiction".
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