Drudkh Songs of Grief and Solitude
Supernal Music FERLY045 October 19, 2006
By Jason Jordan
Like true workhorses, Drudkh have managed to release an album every year since 2003, and while some may think quality suffers at the hands of prolificacy, thats certainly not the case with this Ukrainian export. As a matter of fact, many listeners consider Blood in Our Wells (2006) their finest effort to date, which is naturally along the lines of The Swan Road (2005), yet stylistically different from earlier records Autumn Aurora (2004) and Forgotten Legends (2003). Drudkh decided to follow the aforementioned successes with an acoustic folk album that has turned out to be the most polarizing entry in their ever-expanding discography. Despite the absence of black metal, Songs of Grief and Solitude is okay, but at the same time, vastly inferior to the bands previous installments.
Yes, black metal has been left by the wayside this time around, as SoGaS is instrumental folk with only acoustic guitar, flute, and drums much to the dismay of fans salivating at the thought of a proper follow-up to Blood in Our Wells. Still, though, the seven songs here are nicely done but, it could argued, are also somewhat trite. Even at 35 minutes, Drudkhs latest is often just too repetitive. Intro Sunset in Carpathians is surely the most inconsequential of the bunch, but others like Tears of Gods, The Milky Way, and Why the Sun Becomes Sad eke out a win despite their respective lengthiness. Perhaps most enjoyable, however, is shorter up-tempo tune Archaic Dance, though sorrow-drenched The Cranes Will Never Return Here and Grey-Haired Steppe are no less compelling.
In simplest terms, if youre a completist, you already own this. If not, Songs of Grief and Solitude should be passed over in favor of one of their BM albums. This is satisfactory for what it is, but it is disappointing when Drudkh fail in their quest to produce music of the utmost brilliance.
Official Supernal Music Website
Supernal Music FERLY045 October 19, 2006
By Jason Jordan
Like true workhorses, Drudkh have managed to release an album every year since 2003, and while some may think quality suffers at the hands of prolificacy, thats certainly not the case with this Ukrainian export. As a matter of fact, many listeners consider Blood in Our Wells (2006) their finest effort to date, which is naturally along the lines of The Swan Road (2005), yet stylistically different from earlier records Autumn Aurora (2004) and Forgotten Legends (2003). Drudkh decided to follow the aforementioned successes with an acoustic folk album that has turned out to be the most polarizing entry in their ever-expanding discography. Despite the absence of black metal, Songs of Grief and Solitude is okay, but at the same time, vastly inferior to the bands previous installments.
Yes, black metal has been left by the wayside this time around, as SoGaS is instrumental folk with only acoustic guitar, flute, and drums much to the dismay of fans salivating at the thought of a proper follow-up to Blood in Our Wells. Still, though, the seven songs here are nicely done but, it could argued, are also somewhat trite. Even at 35 minutes, Drudkhs latest is often just too repetitive. Intro Sunset in Carpathians is surely the most inconsequential of the bunch, but others like Tears of Gods, The Milky Way, and Why the Sun Becomes Sad eke out a win despite their respective lengthiness. Perhaps most enjoyable, however, is shorter up-tempo tune Archaic Dance, though sorrow-drenched The Cranes Will Never Return Here and Grey-Haired Steppe are no less compelling.
In simplest terms, if youre a completist, you already own this. If not, Songs of Grief and Solitude should be passed over in favor of one of their BM albums. This is satisfactory for what it is, but it is disappointing when Drudkh fail in their quest to produce music of the utmost brilliance.
Official Supernal Music Website
