Is early Darkthrone really death metal?

[zabu of nΩd]

For a long time I've heard people say this, and I've even accepted it at times, but when I really think about it, Soulside Journey and (especially) A Blaze in the Northern Sky seem to have much more in common with black metal due to the epic feel, raspy vocals, thin guitar tone, etc. Especially when compared to bands like Morbid Angel and Death who show a closer thrash influence and generally have a more brutal sound. Also, from my understanding, Darkthrone were pretty closely tied to the Norwegian black metal scene even on these first two albums.

So yeah, just wondering what people had to say about this.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Shit, I posted this in the subforum. V5, can you move this to the main GMD?

 

[cookiecutter]

I have never ever seen A Blaze... called death metal. I haven't heard Soulside Journey.

 

[The Ozzman]

The riffs on Soulside sound like something off an Entombed album, which is undeniably death metal

 

[Omni]

This is about to get good, I think.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

I have never ever seen A Blaze... called death metal. I haven't heard Soulside Journey.

I think I've heard it called a cross between black and death, but yeah I really don't see it that way.

 

[Zephyrus]

Soulside Journey is textbook old school Death Metal. Pure and simple.

 

[skeptik]

Soulside Journey is not even an issue. Neither is Goatlord. These are clearly death metal. A Blaze in the Northern Sky is an interesting album in that, while at the core it is a Black Metal album, there is still a great deal of vestigial death metal influence, both in song structure and in riffs, the obvious influence being Autopsy (which, amusingly, at the time, Fenriz heavily shunned in interviews following the band's decision to move in a new direction. Of course it's come full circle now with Abcess being signed to Tyrant Syndicate...good stuff).

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

It's quite clearly death metal.

 

[Bitencourt29]

I have never ever seen A Blaze... called death metal. I haven't heard Soulside Journey.

Same here. It's strange to imagine them playing death metal.

I'm curious to listen to it, I've read a few times, different articles / texts stating that Soulside Journey is a hell of a DM album.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Soulside Journey is not even an issue. Neither is Goatlord. These are clearly death metal. A Blaze in the Northern Sky is an interesting album in that, while at the core it is a Black Metal album, there is still a great deal of vestigial death metal influence, both in song structure and in riffs, the obvious influence being Autopsy (which, amusingly, at the time, Fenriz heavily shunned in interviews following the band's decision to move in a new direction. Of course it's come full circle now with Abcess being signed to Tyrant Syndicate...good stuff).

It's quite clearly death metal.

Fair enough. I'm obviously not familiar enough with Darkthrone's influences to judge what genre it belongs to. I just think it sounds blacker than most death metal.

 

[CF87]

The riffs on Soulside sound like something off an Entombed album, which is undeniably death metal

One of the guitarist from Entombed was in the studio with them the entire time helping them with the guitar tone which is really cool. Nocturno Culto was really into old Death at the time which inspired his guitar solo's on Soulside Journey.

 

[The Ozzman]

Yeah, the first time I listened to SSJ I said to myself "These riffs sound like something off of Clandestine"

 

[tagradh]

I put SSJ on for the first time in ages cause of this thread, I forgot how much I liked it. Prolly my 3rd favourite after TH and UAFM.

 

[Slayed Necros]

I'm not quite understanding the comparison to Entombed, Clandestine in particular. The two albums sound nothing alike.

Dodens is spot on. Little else needs to be added.

 

[no country for old wainds]

yeah i agree it's nothing like entombed (thankfully)

 

[The Ozzman]

The riffing is similar to Clandestine on that album. Just the sound and style of the playing

 

[~Derek~]

The riffs on Soulside sound like something off an Entombed album, which is undeniably death metal

I need to listen to Entombed then because I really like Soulside Journey.

 

[whiskey funeral]

I need to listen to Entombed then because I really like Soulside Journey.

...You've never heard Entombed? Get yourself a copy of Clandestine. Then after that, Wolverine Blues for some kick ass death 'n' roll.

 

[The Ozzman]

I didn't like Clandestine that much. I still need to check out Left Hand Path