Drudkh : "Shadow Play"

 2015's "A Furrow Cut Short" was the last album I checked out by these guys. Their drummer was killed fighting Russia last year, so not sure who is behind the kit on this one or if the band is even alive by the time I press publish. It opens with just the guitar ringing out more solemnly. The first track makes you begin to wonder if their studio got blown up as it is just the sound of the guitar and someone walking in the snow. Things explode back into a more familiar black metal gallop for the second song. It's a long song at 11 minutes but I like how it uses atmosphere as it is more of a mood than a formulaic breakdown that works of sounds. 

"The Exile' is more straightforward in its pulsing chug with the scowl of the vocals coming across as more obligatory than what we heard in the previous song. It feels more black metal than some of their previous work. Once we are firmly planted into the stormy sonic frenzy that is "Fallen Blossum' you are hit by a trance of blast beats and black metal snarling that will cause you to zone out unless you are properly rested going into this album. 'the Eve" feels like it is an extension of the previous song as the buzzing of guitars feel like it is being carried over. It's not until midway into this song that things are changed up dynamically, though the vocals are still howled with the same fury., 

The last song continues the throbbing tempest. If you miss the early black metal of the 90s but want to hear it done with a more modern undercurrent then these guys have you. That also means they are not as focused on some of the more unique sonic nuance that has touched their songwriting in the past and are taking less risk in so doing, so there is the compromise. They have an impressive sound, but the songs get a little lost in the storm. I will give this album an 8, as they certainly are not selling out and war is only making them angrier. 

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Drudkh : "A Furrow Cut Short"

The new album from the Ukrainian heavy weights doesn't begin with any folk metal or droning ambiance it goes straight for the blasting, though it grows from a more sonic garden than your run of the mill black metal band.The riff eventually bangs it's way into holding some melody once the song gets it's claws into you. The wheel isn't being re-invented, but their playing seems to have a little more depth with the drummer  standing out as the most improved member of the band. The first two songs are a part one and two of "Cursed Sons". The second part rolls in a steady stream of double bass and some epic gallops. At this pace there is a more Moonsorrow like quality to their assault. The vocals stay in a gnarly mid range rasp, they are the only the only one dimensional component to their sound.

The more atmospheric drone doesn't begin until they start the entrancement on the third song. They hang on the riff, with the drums shifting underneath them. This takes a subtle switch into a more head banging inducing groove, before the go back to the blast beats.By the time the album winds it's way around to "Embers" it seems like the are going to stick to the same guitar tones and feel only varying tempos from blast beat fast to deliberate gallop and back again, until the latter half of this song when they begin to defy this formula and offer more texture. They return to the two part theme for "Dishonor" The first part is a blur of blasting that creates a sonic wave of white noise until they drop down to pick out the chords. This induces a different brand of drone that lends it's self to more dynamic pathways for the band to take. The second part slows things down , which at this point in the album is a very wise choice for the band to make. It also allows for the guitars to have more room to weave in melodic embellishments. They do build it back up, going from double bass back into a blast beat section.

They go out with a blast. They lock into a pretty powerful and driving storm of sound.If you were hoping that Drudkh would be the band to come out and take black metal in a whole new direction, you will be waiting a bit longer for some other band to do that , but the good news is You don't have to worry about this band playing Bonnaroo. They are not trying to adhere to any band wagon or take the edge off what they do. In fact I think there is more straight up metal to this album. I'm a little conflicted on this one, because as songwriters I think they could have pushed the envelope a little more, this album plays it a little safe. But it does have a lot of power and sounds great so I'll give it an 8.