Coffin Storm – Arcana Rising
March 29th, 2024
Traditional / Heavy / Doom Metal
Peaceville Records
Kolbotn, Norway
When I first heard that legendary Darkthrone founding member and Norwegian black metal scene alumnus Fenriz was joining forces with members of Aura Noir for a brand new project I was immediately excited. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a massive fan of Darkthrone, they’re my favourite band, while I’ve been fond of Aura Noir for quite some time as well. Jumping into this project I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Would it be pure black metal? Would it be thrasher a la Aura Noir? Would it be more akin to Darkthrone’s modern output?
Well, perhaps surprisingly, the latter of those three options would prove to be the most accurate. Not to say that elements of the other bands and genres listed aren’t present on this first offering from Coffin Storm, but this album does indeed draw heavily upon the same influences that have peppered Darkthrone’s post-Underground Resistance catalog. This record straddles the line between classic doom metal and old school heavy metal (which, let’s be honest, is basically just doom metal in its own right). Shades of Black Sabbath, Manilla Road, Trouble, and Pentagram are all over this record, as are elements of first wave black metal acts like Bathory and Celtic Frost.
Fenriz handles vocal duties on this record exclusively, and it’s a joy to behold. If you’ve enjoyed the moments throughout Darkthrone’s modern output as well as on Isengard’s records where Fenriz has delved into clean vocals, drawing upon the Uriah Heep influence of old, then you’re in for a treat. That’s exclusively the style of singing he does on this album, and you can really feel just how much fun he’s having with it all as a result. There’s a bit of power metal stuff going on in the melody construction, but ultimately Nagell is drawing upon that realm of old school rock and roll to deliver fantastical lyrics about sorcery and ancient battlefields to the listener.
Guitars and bass on this record are handled by Bestial Tormentor who hails variously from the bands Waklevören, Nekromantheon, Lamented Souls, and Omega. I’m regretfully unfamiliar with any of these bands but I can confirm that Tormentor’s riffage ability is pristine on this outing. Once again I think it’s fair to draw a comparison to Darkthrone’s more recent series of records, from Arctic Thunder onward, since so many of the riffs really have a Nocturno Culto vibe to them. They all feel like they’re drawing upon old school doom metal to produce a sound that is ominous and classically heavy, rarely if ever dipping into thrash metal territory. This album is dripping in solid iron riffs that are heavy and catchy as hell, many of which have refused to leave my brain since my first spin of this record.
The drums here are performed by Apollyon of Aura Noir fame who, while not necessarily doing anything that’s over the top and flashy, is a masterful percussionist in his own right. Apollyon understands that for this style of traditional doom metal you don’t need to dazzle the listener with all sorts of off-kilter fills or blast beats or anything like that. The drums are straightforward, punchy, and serve as a bombastic backbone for the true old school worship that this record embodies.
The production here is fantastic too. Mixed by Apollyon himself and mastered by Jack Control, this album isn’t just instrumentally similar to Darkthrone. It also encompasses the old school production style that has been so present on their recent albums. It sounds very similar to the band’s Chaka Khan Studio output and it’s just one of the many reasons I love it. Arcana Rising feels like an album that came out in the late 70’s or early 80’s, shrouded in a crackling fog with a bass drum that sounds like an actual bass drum and guitar riffs enraptured by mist, cigarette smoke, and exhaust fumes.
While I was kind of hoping for something a little thrashier initially, Coffin Storm won me over with their brand of traditionalist doom metal worship inspired by the greats of old. I’ve spun this record many times since its initial release and have grown to love it almost as much as anything that Darkthrone has done in the past 5 years. I’m glad that Fenriz has a new project where he’s fully embracing the old school clean singing voice that has only cropped up sporadically throughout his other bands, and for all these reasons I’m excited to see whatever Coffin Storm produces next.
Final Verdict: 8.5/10
Great
Favourite Tracks:
“Over Frozen Moors”
“Arcana Rising”
“Ceaseless Abandon”
~ Akhenaten
Where Strides The Behemoth? 