It’s difficult to be objective about music; it is after all a purely subjective form. So in my subjective opinion, i found this unlistenable. You’re right that Darkthrone’s peak was the “91-‘94 era, noting that Panzerfaust, Goatlord and Underground Resistance were also exceptional records and decidedly different when compared to each other. I appreciate that Darkthrone make the records they feel compelled to make, and i would argue that they’d make music even if no one listened. But high praise for this one suggests you see something i definitely can’t ha ha.

Small note. Darkthrone were never a touring band per se. The did some shows in Finland in 1991 before pivoting fully to their BM sound and that show in ‘96 was a one off. They played 6 songs and walked off. Dissection and Satyricon also on the bill. Fenriz described Darkthrone live as the equivalent to watching paint dry. Maybe he was right.