Astral Fortress

Pitchfork 6.9/10 The apparent effortlessness (and occasional silliness) of the metal band’s 20th album could make it feel tossed off, but the duo’s enthusiasm mostly prevents that from happening.

Distorted Sound 7/10 Instrumentally, this record is much more interesting than last year’s Eternal Hails……, and may be their most well-conceived material since 2013’s The Underground Resistance. Astral Fortress feels more celestial and all-encompassing than anything the band have produced in several years.

Metal Injection 8/10 There is a clear divide in Darkthrone's catalog between works that sound like obvious nostalgia vs. those that blend that devotion into something we would say "sounds like Darkthrone." I'd say this album tilts in the latter category, and presages a promising direction for one of metal's finest creative outfits.

Metal Sucks 5/5 Astral Fortress is the kind of album that you should take with a huge “Thank you!” If your taste in music is at all decent, this release is bound to become one of your new “go-tos.” Astral Fortress will give you the feeling you had when you first discovered metal.