ALBUM REVIEW: Doline Su Ostale Iza Nas – Bednja
BEDNJA are an interesting proposition. Playing a mixture of black metal and hardcore, the Croatian triplet have assumed the best of both worlds, re-energising the recently stale world of black metal that has been dominated by old bands and are making it something new and exciting on their debut album Doline Su Ostale Iza Nas.
The opening track and its successor are punishingly aggressive, with ambient noise of running water adding an extra sonic layer not seen in most black metal. However, it is the second half of song two Posljednji Krik where things really get interesting, as keyboards are introduced to the mix and the hardcore elements of BEDNJA‘s sound come to the fore, with cleaner guitar tones and a beatdown that wouldn’t be out of place in a VENOM PRISON or MALEVOLENCE track.
The blend of traditional black metal vocals with fast paced hardcore instrumentation sounds like a combination that shouldn’t work but BEDNJA have pulled it off and then some. The fourth song on the album; Ledena Palaca may be one of the few black metal tracks in recent history that actually inspires a crowd to create circle pits and move rather than just standing around and allowing the band to put all their energy into the show without getting anything back. Certainly if a more hardcore type of audience arrive then there will certainly be that synergy between performer and audience that hardcore bands in particular feed off, and there is no doubt that BEDNJA will be an awe inspiring live act, whenever they do eventually make it over to these shores.
The ambient sounds of running water also add an element of fragility and calm during the breaks between punishing blastbeats that are not often seen in either black metal or hardcore, which usually have a much more traditionally violent and aggressive sound that eschews the beauty of nature for punishing music instead. While not necessarily the most noticeable thing on the album, the fact that the sound of water is continuous throughout the six songs on the record shows the craft and dedication that went into BEDNJA‘s debut full length – this album would be incredible without all the extra effects and just relying on the music, but similarly to how they have put their own twist on black metal, they have also made sure to inject their own personalities into the album, with the fragility of nature running throughout the record, until the storm begins to break with the sound of thunder on the final track which also serves as the titular song for the album. Doline Su Ostale Iza Nas also ends with what sounds like a traditional Croatian folk song, the only clean vocals on the entire album, which pays homage to their heritage, and provides yet another example of how BEDNJA have put their own stamp on the genre.
While the lyrics are all in Croatian, even an English speaker can feel the raw emotion that the vocals convey, even if the literal meaning is not fully understood. The excellent production lends itself to making the vocals much more powerful than in a traditional black metal song where they are often overpowered by the instrumental side of things – such as in several MAYHEM tracks where Dead or Attila are not the focus of anything and are instead drowned out. It is brilliant here then that both Ivan and Nikola’s vocals are clearly audible over the brutal riffs that they are playing, and allows them to show off their impressive chops.
While still an unknown entity in the UK, it is clear that BEDNJA are on to something special here, and the fact that this album has not been picked up on and talked about like it should is simply criminal. Here’s hoping that they bring their impressive blend of black metal and hardcore over to British shores so that it can be experienced in its entirety soon – that crowd will be in for a treat.
Rating: 9/10
Doline Su Ostale Iza Nas is out now via Transcending Obscurity Records.
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