The Rock Blogger

Drudkh. Microcosmos . 2009. 4.5 stars .

Fierce black metal with folk-tinged melodies from the forests of Ukraine. With stronger, tighter song-writing, Drudkh’s conservative approach strikes a inspired balance between aggressive, textured guitar work and a deep organic atmosphere. Those familiar with the band know that Drudkh’s musicianship can be eclectic in all the right places, as acoustic guitars and traditional instruments weave between sinewy bass lines and rolling percussion ("Distant Cries of Cranes").The effect is absorbing, as songs morph from dense blasts of unbridled rage (the opening riffs of "Decadence") to expansive, meditative passages ("Ars Poetica"). This music progresses like some wanderer in the mountains, torn and weather beaten in the struggle, but enraptured by his surroundings upon reaching the summit.

Microcosmos is heavy in every sense of the word. In both style and substance, the album recalls struggles of an almost universal order (hence the title), pushing the individual to purge their self-concern in light of higher and more mysterious powers. Seen in light of their previous work, Microcosmos encapsualtes the best aesthetic touches Drudkh has developed over the years, condensing folkloric atmosphere, climatic guitar solos and passionate vocals into a poetic whole. Recommended.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 3rd, 2009 at 9:19 am and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.