Circle the Wagons
Darkthrone · 2010
40 min · 9 tracks · black metal
Raw riffs and relentless rhythms intertwine with a punk-infused ethos, creating a distinctly unapologetic black metal experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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I Am the Graves of the 80s — This track encapsulates the band's nostalgia for heavy metal roots while delivering a fierce critique of contemporary trends, illustrating their defiance against mainstream influences.
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Circle the Wagons — The title track serves as a rallying cry for fans of underground metal, blending aggressive instrumentation with an anthem-like quality that resonates throughout the album.
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Black Mountain Totem — With its hypnotic rhythm and layered guitar work, this song showcases Darkthrone’s ability to blend atmospheric elements with their trademark ferocity.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases raw energy and consistent aggression typical of black metal, with solid craftsmanship but limited melodic variation.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a mid-tempo track that sets a raw, aggressive tone, followed by several faster-paced songs that maintain high energy.
- Each track features repetitive riff structures that emphasize rhythm over melody, typical of the black metal genre.
- Vocals are delivered in a harsh style, often layered with reverb, which blends into the instrumentation rather than standing out distinctly.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- wave-like pacing experiences
- reflective moments of rebellion
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Fan Favorite — Beloved by fans for its raw energy and authenticity in the black metal scene.
- Career context
- By the time 'Circle the Wagons' was released in 2010, Darkthrone had firmly established themselves as stalwarts of the black metal scene, following their influential 2007 album 'F.O.A.D.'. This record continued their artistic evolution, embracing a lo-fi production style while incorporating elements of punk and heavy metal into their signature sound.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Those Treasures Will Never Befall You 4:21
- 2 Running for Borders 4:03
- 3 I Am the Graves of the 80s 3:07
- 4 Stylized Corpse 7:33
- 5 Circle the Wagons 2:46
- 6 Black Mountain Totem 5:35
- 7 I Am the Working Class 5:08
- 8 Eyes Burst at Dawn 3:32
- 9 Bränn inte slottet 4:39
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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