It’s hard to believe that three years ago Darkthrone released The Underground Resistance, the band’s throwback to old 80’s speed metal. While Darkthrone originated as a death metal-turned-black metal band in the early 90’s, the band ultimately abandoned that direction in favor of more retro-metal and crust punk influences, starting with 2006’s The Cult Is Alive. While further releases continued to move away from their black metal fame, the band continues to maintain a cult-like (no pun intended) following and all without barely performing live.

Finally, after silence aside from Fenriz’s SoundCloud radio shows, the band revealed some information regarding their new album they’ve been hard at work on. The Facebook post (Presumably written by Fenriz) reads as follows:

Hi folks, it’s time to talk a bit about our new album – and as I don’t like to talk or write about music much I can say that it is more serious and primitive than usual. Vocals are only done by Ted as I thought this would create a more solemn/introvert atmosphere. The album is called ARCTIC THUNDER because it is my fave bandname (old mega-obscure Norwegian band from the 80s that I asked the permission from to use as an album title). Meanwhile here is the cover, it is from the personal camping archives from a trip some years ago to SPÅLSBERGET in Nordmarka. IT has the usual spruce-tree skyline and also a bonfire – there will be another limited colour version with orange logo and title, because that was MY favourite colour, but the usual release looks like this in silver – as this was Ted’s favourite version.

No word on when Arctic Thunder is expected to be released, or even when we’re going to hear music from it. It is, however, expected to be released sometime this year. If it comes out in November or December, it will mark the largest gap in between Darkthrone releases.