When are two EPs not two EPs? When it’s Ukrainian masters of their own destiny Drudkh, it seems. You see three quarters of the Winterfylleth split also make up three sevenths of the Eastern Frontier In Flames EP, with the latter having the two songs from the 2007 Anti-Urban EP and the two songs from 2010’s Slavonic Chronicles covers EP added. The split is a vinyl only limited issue, the ‘Eastern Frontier… ‘ is a CD/digital release.
Okay, well the first thing that should be obvious is that neither release is going to give you much of a clue as to where Drudkh are going next, so let’s just take them at face value, shall we?
Thousands Of Moons Ago/The Gates split is, when you think about it, a match made in… Well, some cold land or past time. With both bands’ well documented interest in things cultural to their homelands a certain musical meeting of souls is hoped for and beautifully delivered here. Drudkh invest in their black metal roots with more covers of Slavonic bands (which I hold my hands up to never having heard the originals) while Winterfylleth step into a piece of Drudkh’s past with their cover of the Hate Forest epic ‘The Gates’.
‘W Krainie Drzew’ by Hefestos opens the EP in atmospheric form. A beautifully captured drum sound brings a rhythmic spine to an excellent mid-tempo swirl of keyboard laced but still harsh black metal. Drudkh deep in their black metal roots. Whispers of Burzum style quiet riffs, then a more isolationist passage of half spoken vocals as the choral sound rounds it out. This is going to be good, yes? Yes. Unclean’s ‘Ten, Ktery Se Vyhyba Svetlu’ shifts to a deeper, rippling and rolling drum sound and a classical touch to the riffs which curiously reminds me of Elend. Dark, atmospheric and enrapturing. Sacrilegium’s ‘Recidivus’ is a harsher attack, pretty raw in style but here enveloped in a gorgeous cold cloak which retains the power of yearning that stalks this EP.
Finally we have Winterfylleth. The UK band gather themselves and quietly, open up ‘The Gates’, a nine minute howl of ice cold bleakness. Traditional I guess with the drum battery and the buzzing, rasping riff but that understates the magnificence of song and interpretation. It is a tempestuous ride, something that not only brings Hate Forest to the fore but Forteresse, early Emperor, and that glorious beauty in the bitter cold. It flows and surges and writhes but they steer the beast magnificently. A real triumph for both bands. (8/10)
The Eastern Frontier In Flames EP, has those Drudkh recordings above, but the Winterfylleth is replaced by the two previously released EPs. The Anti-Urban work if you are unfamiliar with it is immediately recognised by a much sharper and thinner sound, a less full on production. Hard snare and treble high guitar typify the work; ‘Fallen Into Oblivion’ is a slow, rather repetitive dirge bringing to mind neglect and a wasteland. ‘Ashes’ is faster, has that frosty sparkle to the sound and a hidden drive that leaves a lasting mark. ‘Tam Gdzie Gasnie Dzien’, originally by Sacrilegium, has a kind of sylvan feel somehow, that deep, rolling yearning that brings to mind early …In The Woods with a darker intent. Again it is quite wonderful with a fine use of haunting pipes and half buried clean vocals; if only I could find the originals too. The Master’s Hammer cover ‘Indiánská Písen Hruzy’ behind with an almost trip-hop intro of bleeps and tricky drum rolls before moving into a vocal heavy, slow brooding snarl of a song. (7/10)
So there you go: If you have the two earlier EPs, get the vinyl. If you’re a Winterfylleth fan get the vinyl. If you’re new to Drudkh, get both. They are both worthy buys but for me the split is the one to aim for if only one is on the cards.
(Gizmo)
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