DRUDKH — Кров у наших криницях (Blood in Our Wells) (review)

DRUDKH — Кров у наших криницях (Blood in Our Wells) album cover Album · 2006 · Atmospheric Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
Vehemency
Along with the debut Forgotten Legends and Autumn Aurora, Blood in Our Wells is a pinnacle moment in Drudkh’s history, and I don’t think I exaggerate if I say that it’s an important album in the whole area of atmospheric folk black metal. While the first two albums focused more on the beauty of nature in general (that is just my notion), The Swan Road incorporated elements from Ukrainian traditions, and this is further explored on Blood in Our Wells. The album’s overall feel is almost cinematic: this is due to the movie samples (from a film named Mamaj) that are present in the beginning of every track.

Drudkh’s sound is at its most massive on Blood in Our Wells: the album sounds huge and thrilling, with probably the most professional production Drudkh has had to this date - a big contrast to the next black metal album Estrangement which sounds like a rehearsal recording compared to this. Composition-wise, Drudkh has some almost progressive elements in its music, meaning that the song structures aren’t as simple as before: there are sudden breakdown moments and the guitar solos are on bigger role. Technicality isn’t, however, exaggerated so that everything is done with good taste.

The songs tend to be long, most of them are around the 10-minute mark but this is no problem because Drudkh has managed to come up with some really heart-rending melodies. There is repetition, yes, but I don’t mind hearing riffs of this quality over and over again. A personal highlight moment has always been the latter half of ”When the Flame Turns to Ashes” but in all honesty (and in all fanboyism), the whole album is pure gold of melancholic, folky black metal. Not to forget all the nostalgia that this album arouses in me, too - I won’t deny that.

From the dynamic drums to goose bumps inducing guitar solos and emotionally powerful vocal delivery, Blood in Our Wells is bombastic and, well, perfect. All the riffs seem to be in their right places and this is one of those rare albums of which I can’t find anything to complain about - not even in my reviews in which I always try to find something to criticise about.
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