DRUDKH — Slavonic Chronicles (review)

DRUDKH — Slavonic Chronicles album cover EP · 2010 · Atmospheric Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Conor Fynes
'Slavonic Chronicles' - Drudkh (6/10)

To bridge the time between then, and the release of their 2010 full-length 'Handful Of Stars', Drudkh released this homage to two metal legends of their native Ukraine. Obviously quite big influences on this band's sound, the music of Master's Hammer and Sacrilegium is paid a tribute, with Drudkh lead man Roman Saenko and company taking one song each of this band and putting their own spin on it. While undoubtedly a fan's item, Drudkh passes both of these songs on very well, and puts enough of a new twist into each of the tracks as to make 'Slavonic Chronicles' worthy of a few spins.

The first song is the much shorter 'Indiánská Píseò Hrùzy', a song originally played by Master's Hammer, that is pretty simplistic compared to the epic second track here, but has an almost bluesy black metal feel to it that is oddly reminiscent of some of Opeth's slower metal work. Beggining with some very odd electronic soundscaping, the song develops into an anthemic hymn of doom, with tortured vocal rasping dominating the mix. Eventually, the main section of the song abates into a melodic solo that really makes the song worth listening to, although it ultimately is nothing special.

The second track here however, is what makes Drudkh's 'Slavonic Chronicles' a bit more than a mere fan serving. Originally penned by Sacreligium, this is an epic composition that very gradually builds from harmonic picking and a repetitive guitar picking, into a galloping storm of guitars and Thurios' snarl. The song really hits it's stride during the middle, in which an atonal woodwinds arrangement is introduced, tying the music in with Drudkh's roots in Ukranian folk music. Suffice to say, Drudkh does this epic a fair justice.

One issue the EP doesn't properly deal with is the production. While the sound is generally quite clear for black metal, problems arise when the mixing appears as if it cuts out for brief moments. While this might go unnoticed for some, once you do notice the little lapses in mixing and volume, it can become a mild thorn in one's side when enjoying the music.

'Slavonic Chronicles' is about as good as a one-off covers effort can get. With good song choices, a meaningful tribute and maintainance of the band's trademark style, this EP should appeal to fans of this band, and anyone with a casual interest in the black metal style.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Deviance Deathcore
ASHES INTO BLOOD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Equilibrium Atmospheric Sludge Metal
BESRA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tension Between Rot And Genesis Sludge Metal
ANTHESIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Recycle Brain Crust Punk
C.P.G
Buy this album from MMA partners
Cartography Of The Mind Deathcore
TETHERED
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Besra – Unsullied (Music Video)
BESRA
Bosh66· 10 hours ago
Tethered - Breathe (Official Video)
TETHERED
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Saltwound - Walking The Blade (OFFICIAL VISUALIZER)
SALTWOUND
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Saltwound - The Negative (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
SALTWOUND
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Saltwound - Drowning feat. Taylor Barber (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
SALTWOUND
Bosh66· 1 day ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed