Sorrow and Pride (Blood In Our Wells - Drudkh)

Member Name: Burning_Darkness

Product:	Blood In Our Wells - Drudkh
Date:	11/07/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: well written, well executed, moving, varied, dramatic and enjoyable

Disadvantages: None

'Blood in Our Wells' the fourth effort by Ukranian black metal Drudkh, carries on along the path of musical progression the band embarked upon with their previous album 'The Swan Road', mixing lethargic, droning, black metal passages with sections of sorrowful celtic/Eastern European melodies and galloping drums that remind of Irish peers Primordial.

There are some traditional-sounding folk influences worked in throughout, including acoustic strumming and occasional use of a mandolin and what sounds like an Eastern European variant on the bagpipes, whilst the vocals are the same dramatic, rasped growls as before, and as always these suit the music well.

The band go a step further with their melodic rock soloing they first showcased on 'The Swan Road', and it fits into the music more comfortably this time, with the band succeeding in elminating the slight musical disjountedness and occasional tinniness that was present on their previous release.The bouncy and upbeat folk melodies that were present on the previous two albums are more prevalant than ever here, especially on the track 'Eternity', which starts off as a punky and dynamic number with a fast beat and celebratory, folky riffing, before switching down to a slower tempo and slowly ploughing a deep furrow of the epic, sorrowful, heathen black metal that Drudkh do so well. The album is more cinematic and dramatic than its predecessors, and is respendent with hugely moving sections, full of sadness, loss, stoic pride and even joy.

The album presentation completes the experience, with both the cd itself and the accompanying booklet being covered in beautiful depictions forest scenes painted in watercolours, as well as a melancholy album cover that reminds of the work of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Ukranian history is once again the theme and the lyrics borrow from poetry by numerous leading 19th and 20th century Ukranian poets including Oleksandr Oles and Lina Kostenko, but they are all in Ukranian, so I can't comment any further on them. That said, I think its fantastic to see a band writing lyrics in their native language rather than caving in to the pressure to write in English.

'Blood in Our Wells' is an extremely well written and well executed piece of folk-influenced black metal with epic, moving songs and catchy, folky riffs. A fantastic album.

Tracklisting-

1. Nav' 02:24
2. Furrows of Gods 08:57
3. When the Flame Turns to Ashes 10:37
4. Solitude 12:24
5. Eternity 10:37
6. Ukrainian Insurgent Army 05:04

Total playing time 50:04

Summary: A masterpiece of folk-influenced black metal