Darkthrone is back once again with a crunchy, doomy new single "The Bird People Of Nordland". Fenriz admits the subject matter isn't exactly the most metal, noting "it’s about the EIDER bird and Nordland. Many years ago I saw a Norwegian documentary with the symbiotic relationship the coast people of Nordland had with the bird. They watched over the nests and in return could pick the eider for pillows clothing, warmth etc. So that is what the lyrics are about."
He continued: "Again, this is [Ted "Nocturno Culto" Skjellum]'s song so a bit hard for me to comment on it musically but I will tell you all what I think when I hear it:
"First of we have a typical grim Ted riff for the verse, then he surprises with a catchy riff for the refrain AND THEN comes my fave part of the album; the post-refrain riff which sounds like Queensryche 1984 style and you can also hear how much we enjoy to play it! EXACTLY where I want to be! Could have played that riff for 8 minutes straight, haha! This loops again with the refrain again without singing and then back to Queensryche '84. Then first riff again with my added harmony guitar playing on it, what our studio man Ole Øvstedal called 'the Corleone part'.
"A break arrives and then things are sped up (not faster than Yardbirds in 64, we are not an extreme metal band, more like MODERAT EPIC) which corresponds with a slower heavy metal riff where we also brought out the mellotrone if I remember correctly.
"Then Ted bombs you with a final part, primitive d-beat thrash with a riff that sounds like Tom G Warrior made it and I also ordered Ted to lay on some hellish guitars. Anyway, I LIVE for that Queensryche 84 riff, Ted!"
Nocturno Culto added: "Well, AGAIN, talking about our music really blows or is very difficult, at least for me. Personally, music is a floating thing, and I am having a hard time to try to break it down. It's metal, a bit of heavy/doom/black/thrash, that is Darkthrone now, mixing genres has been something we have done since A Blaze, and especially since 2005. And I am just looking forward on new material, new riffs and ideas."
Darkthrone will release their new record It Beckons Us All on April 26. Pre-orders are available here.
