Drudkh Blood in Our Wells
Supernal Music FERLY037 May 1st, 2006
By Jason Jordan
Ever since 2003, Drudkh has churned out at least one album per year no easy feat in and of itself and each of those have been remarkably solid. The Ukrainian black/folk metal band featuring former members of Hate Forest have returned with 2006s entry Blood in Our Wells, which follows its predecessor The Swan Road (2005) nicely and separates them further from earlier works such as Autumn Aurora (2004) and Forgotten Legends (2003). Like all prior material, however, Drudkh can be relied upon to produce metal of the highest caliber. Consequently, BiOW will appear on my year-end list because its an all-around excellent record, and one of the years finest efforts in any genre.
Their fourth full-length begins with Nav, though the real meat lurks behind the introduction in the form of Furrows of Gods perhaps my favorite Drudkh track of all time. The subtle, ambient keyboards will bring past endeavors to mind (i.e. FL & AA), yet the folk-rich sections (7:05 and on) and sorrowful leads and melodies (2:45; 4:35) set apart BiOW from the rest of their oeuvre, in addition to more intricate drumwork, which avoids heavy repetition. When the Flame Turns to Ashes has very similar attributes, but is also somehow incredibly different from the other compositions. Drudkh, as usual, gush with melancholy. Solitude and Eternity both up the pace and, perhaps as a result, seem more driven and determined than their peers. The three above-mentioned tracks are the lengthiest that Blood in Our Wells has to offer, clocking in respectively at 10:37, 12:23, and 10:38. Closer Ukrainian Insurgent Army, despite completely jettisoning vocals, is a beast that resembles the others stylistically.
If theres anything to learn from Blood in Our Wells, its that Drudkh are only improving. While theyve been consistently great in the past, their latest comes across as inspired and fresh easily one of the best black metal albums of this year, alongside Nachtmystiums Instinct: Decay, Negura Bungets OM, Summonings Oath Bound, Wolves in the Throne Rooms Diadem of 12 Stars, and Xasthurs Subliminal Genocide. Similar to the rest of their catalog, this one is utterly necessary. Staying true to prolific tendencies, their instrumental, acoustic record Songs of Grief and Solitude will see the light of day in 2006, too, but methinks it just wont be the same without the BM elements. Will it be the bands first disappointing release?
9/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Supernal Music Website
Supernal Music FERLY037 May 1st, 2006
By Jason Jordan
Ever since 2003, Drudkh has churned out at least one album per year no easy feat in and of itself and each of those have been remarkably solid. The Ukrainian black/folk metal band featuring former members of Hate Forest have returned with 2006s entry Blood in Our Wells, which follows its predecessor The Swan Road (2005) nicely and separates them further from earlier works such as Autumn Aurora (2004) and Forgotten Legends (2003). Like all prior material, however, Drudkh can be relied upon to produce metal of the highest caliber. Consequently, BiOW will appear on my year-end list because its an all-around excellent record, and one of the years finest efforts in any genre.
Their fourth full-length begins with Nav, though the real meat lurks behind the introduction in the form of Furrows of Gods perhaps my favorite Drudkh track of all time. The subtle, ambient keyboards will bring past endeavors to mind (i.e. FL & AA), yet the folk-rich sections (7:05 and on) and sorrowful leads and melodies (2:45; 4:35) set apart BiOW from the rest of their oeuvre, in addition to more intricate drumwork, which avoids heavy repetition. When the Flame Turns to Ashes has very similar attributes, but is also somehow incredibly different from the other compositions. Drudkh, as usual, gush with melancholy. Solitude and Eternity both up the pace and, perhaps as a result, seem more driven and determined than their peers. The three above-mentioned tracks are the lengthiest that Blood in Our Wells has to offer, clocking in respectively at 10:37, 12:23, and 10:38. Closer Ukrainian Insurgent Army, despite completely jettisoning vocals, is a beast that resembles the others stylistically.
If theres anything to learn from Blood in Our Wells, its that Drudkh are only improving. While theyve been consistently great in the past, their latest comes across as inspired and fresh easily one of the best black metal albums of this year, alongside Nachtmystiums Instinct: Decay, Negura Bungets OM, Summonings Oath Bound, Wolves in the Throne Rooms Diadem of 12 Stars, and Xasthurs Subliminal Genocide. Similar to the rest of their catalog, this one is utterly necessary. Staying true to prolific tendencies, their instrumental, acoustic record Songs of Grief and Solitude will see the light of day in 2006, too, but methinks it just wont be the same without the BM elements. Will it be the bands first disappointing release?
9/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Supernal Music Website
