ALBUM REVIEW: A Few Lines In Archaic Ukrainian – Drudkh
There are few atmospheric black metal bands in Europe as endlessly alluring as DRUDKH; the Ukraine mainstays have spent a career remaining remarkably consistent and replete with fresh and engaging ideas. Despite spending much of their time in relative obscurity, only achieving underground glory for much of their early years, they have managed to gradually and successfully garner a following, and it’s no surprise why; the quartet is responsible for some of the most all-encompassing black metal released this century.
Their debut album, Forgotten Legends, and its ambitious follow-up Autumn Aurora remain upheld as two of the most remarkable atmospheric black metal albums in recent memory – each of them called upon rural/folk influences specific to their region, as well as that of both BURZUM and CELTIC FROST. Throughout their career, they have continually built on this formula, sparing only 2006’s Songs Of Grief And Solitude, which provided an amalgam of both folk and dark ambient; a curiosity within their discography. They’ve continually impressed fans with their orchestral and dynamic take on pagan black metal, almost falling into the camp of ‘taken for granted’. Here, however, on A Few Lines In Archaic Ukrainian, they are on the finest forms they’re experienced in years, and demand a critical renaissance.
DRUDKH’s national identity comes through in their art in a number of ways, separating from a densely-populated pack. Their lyrics, generally, concern Slavic mythology – something that has since and previously been explored in black metal, but never to the standard of DRUDKH. On A Few Lines In Archaic Ukrainian, however, DRUDKH have opted for a new technique. The group have unearthed classical texts from Ukrainian poets and used them as the foundation for their music. For example, the words of Mike Johansen, who arrived in Karkhiv at the end of the 19th century, words are make-up the lyrics for single Autumn In Sepia. This song provides a perfect taster for the rest of the album; showing both that the album possesses a level of scope the band haven’t shown before, as well as being more musically direct than its immediate neighbours. It’s not the artistic highlight, but it is certainly the song one ought to be shown before being introduced to the album in its entirety.
From the opening moments of Golden Horse, two things become immediately abundantly clear. Firstly, the band are on absolutely stunning form. Almost twenty years in their career, DRUDKH haven’t audibly aged a moment; possessing the vigour of a band who lack their years. It’s refreshing to hear them continue their run of form while many of their contemporaries fall prey to their own tropes. Secondly, this is easily the most intelligently pitched production job the band have boasted so far. It’s a masterful balance between the blistering raw tones adopted on their earlier works and the dreamlike clarity of such mainstays as EMPEROR and WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM.
The crowning moment on this album is unquestionably the utterly glorious closer The Night Walks Toward Her Throne, which displays DRUDKH at their most explosive. The lead-work is a particular highlight at this juncture, as the searing guitar harmonies make for an endearing counterpart against its fiery counterpart in the rhythm section and untamed vocal performance. Maik Yohansen informs the lyrics here, and it makes for a genuinely haunting piece – it’s sure to be considered one of their finest songs to date.
DRUDKH have been successful in maintaining consistency throughout their 17 years; anyone familiar with this group would be forgiven for going into A Few Lines In Archaic Ukrainian with positive, but not high-pressure, expectations. Instead, the band have come through with one of their finest works. By openly challenging themselves lyrically and putting their ability to adapt to the test, DRUDKH doesn’t simply demand respect but produce results which warrant it. To any fan of atmospheric black metal, this will be one of the satisfying and emotive albums one is likely to find this year, while for those unfamiliar, this provides an exemplary entry-point.
Rating: 8/10
A Few Lines In Archaic Ukrainian is out now via Season of Mist Underground Activists.
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