Released on: 22nd August 2024
Black metal, as a style has long been overrun with pseudo-political nonsense mostly due to influence from the mighty order of Die Weise Polizei. Forget all that shiz. Or better yet, just groove with what you got.
Darkmoon Warrior did. Which is likely why their latest, Graveyard Plant, is effortlessly refreshing. Think grim! Think necro! Think killer! Everything apoplectic and unholy about the original sound that aficionados’ forgot. When the drive to over produce the sound of one armpit farting became the nu-de-facto sound. There is none of that here. The album is raw yet adroit.
While the album is conceptually Black Metal behind its brutal noise of war is a good dose of punk-like riffs. Delivered in the harsh aforementioned style. And, with a more diverse beat track than the clutch of blast beats and intense but exhausting tempos. The pacing, while diverse, never lets the atmosphere lose its bite.
Lords and Ladies, this album is not a commercial tie-in product. But, it is not completely unpalatable either. This is a venerable expression of disdain– art, and a solid affair that distills nearly thirty years of rockin’; a good time, a great listen and a fine album to bring in the autumnal blues.
8/10
