Been continuing to thrash this for over a week now, something I've not done since BioW. Pleasantly surprised. I would argue that this is the best release for a number of years.
The production is warm, perhaps too full and rich for my personal taste, as it has been since HoS, but musically things are more aggressive. I wish they'd go back to a thinner production, something more raw. I feel it brings out more in their songwriting.
The vocal delivery by Thurios is brilliant as always but he does have noticeably more rage in his lines than I've heard for a few years. The screams and shrieks are nice and drawn out for good aggressive effect. Vlad's drumming is VERY reminiscent of his style with Blood Of Kingu, not so much with the blastbeats, but the fills. The riffs in places DO betray some of the softness we heard in HoS, but only enough so that its not a deterrent. There's also very subtle use of acoustic guitars here and there.
The record is simple, its not as extreme as the perfection of the first four records. The songs are more subtle and don't hit you like a tonne of bricks like Blood In Our Wells did. There are some keyboard lines here and there which really bring us back to Autumn Aurora, which is a nice touch.
A Furrow Cut continues to grow on me, and I'm quite surprised at how good this is. This record takes time to grow. It's a solid return to form - and it makes me feel like they're making their way back to where they should be. I have my faith in Drudkh restored.