Drudkh have been the forerunners of forward thinking when it comes to black metal. Known for the haunting atmospheres they conjure and the bleakness in their sound, these Ukrainians have given us album after album of sheer brilliance and surreal soundscapes. While their earlier works demonstrate a post-black approach, their recent albums have seen them incorporate elements of progressive metal as well as come face to face with the harsher and raw sides of black metal. Their latest offering ‘They Often See Dreams About The Spring’ is perfect balance of ethereal-ism and straight in your face pounding.
The album blasts off with “Nakryta Neba Burym Dakhom”. Now, I was not exactly sure what to expect here. Honestly, I might not have heard few of their recent works. I remember tripping to records like the epic ‘Autumn Aurora’, ‘Estrangement’ and ‘Microcosmos’ and being mesmerized by the bleak radiance of melancholy emitted from them. There have been a couple albums I might have missed and I was unaware of any shifts in the way they sound. Coming back to the track, it was a straight up assault on my senses. It was not the Drudkh I was exactly used to, but a while into the track and the record as a whole, I could begin to start feel the evolution in their sound. The grand atmosphere was intact, which though evident in their earlier works, did not seem to be their prime focus.
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The track names are too difficult to be pronounced or even written so we wont go there. Overall, this is a solid album. An album which we can close our eyes and let our thoughts wander off to. For what Drudkh are best known for-the way the intricate melodies have been interwoven with the harsh tones is a treat for the ears. The record is rich in emotions of nostalgia and despair, and might be your best companion for a cold dark day. Even though, I was looking forward to more of the atmospheric element (which is not as much as it was earlier), I am definitely not disappointed and have no complaints at all.
Drudkh’s ‘They Often See Dreams About The Spring’ is a grand black metal record. It is an upsurge of emotions riding on a bleak yet chaotic wall of atmosphere. Listening to the album is definitely a cathartic experience.