Under The Eternal Sun (The Swan Road - Drudkh)

Member Name: Burning_Darkness

Product:	The Swan Road - Drudkh
Date:	01/07/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Varied, well executed, moving and atmospheric

Disadvantages: Drums can sound a little flat and tinny during faster sections

Drudkh's third album, 'Lebedynyy Shlyakh (The Swan Road)' represents a change in direction in the band's sound. Whilst the previous releases were very relaxed and melancholy affairs, 'The Swan Road' borrows heavily from the fast rumbling, black metal style of sister band Hate Forest, as well further emphasising the folky aspects present in its predecessor 'Autumn Aurora'.

The songs presented here are a mixture of high-speed black metal full of frenetic, melodic riffing with epic, open sections that are both powerful and mournful, also introducing for the first time the addition of ecstatic, hyper-melodic solos. The band dont leave their old style behind however, but rather build upon it, with numerous of painfully sad, rousing, slow-to-mid-paced Primordial-style passages appearing throughout, especially on closing tracks 'The Price of Freedom' and 'Fate', and there are also numerous sections of sad, semi-acoustic Eastern-European folk melodies. Generally speaking, the album grows more melancholy towards the end, whilst the first half is genereally more upbeat. It closes with 'Song of Sich Destruction', a presumably traditional number played on what sounds like a mandolin with clean singing by a rather ancient-sounding old man, which, while it does go on a bit, is an appropriate closer that gives the album added depth.

There are lyrics given in the booklet, although these are written in illegible handwriting. However, internet sources reveal that the album borrows verses from Ukrainian Christian poet Taras Schevchenko, with around half of these lyrics available in English and the other half given in Ukrainian in Slavic script. The English lyrics reveal a theme of Ukranian national history, and are rather beautiful.

Though excellent overall, 'The Swan Road' is not without its faults. The drums can sound a little tinny and flat during the faster sections, and as a whole the album is perhaps not as rawly emotive as those which preceded it. These are minor criticisms however, and 'The Swan Road' remains an excellent, varied album that is full of moving passages and beautiful imagery and will appeal to anyone with an interest in either black metal or folk.

Tracklisting-

1. 1648 01:41
2. Eternal Sun 07:42
3. Blood 09:02
4. Glare of 1768 05:58
5. The Price of Freedom 08:12
6. Fate 06:42
7. Song of Sich Destruction 04:17

Total playing time 43:36

Summary: A powerful mix of black metal and Eastern European folk.