DRUDKH - Eternal Turn of the Wheel CD Review

ARTIST: Drudkh
TITLE: Eternal Turn of the Wheel
LABEL: Underground Activists - SOM
YEAR: 2012
REVIEWED BY: Steve Miller

Winter is coming. Or so I've been told by both Game of Thrones and The Weather Network here in Toronto. The truth is, Thrones isn't premiering for a few months, and quite frankly, I'm sick of meteorologist lying to me on a daily basis. Here in the home city of Xplosivemetal.com, we're experiencing a severe lack of harsh weather, which makes Black Metal a little less palatable if you're one for seasonal taste in music. Fear not, for Drudkh's "Eternal Turn of the Wheel" should bring about a cold front through it's sheer ambience and melody that even the most seasoned of us will bitch and complain about. Today's forecast? -20*c with a wind chill of HOLY SHIT.

For a minute and sixteen seconds we get the very down to earth, relaxed, acoustic track "Eternal Circle". Enjoy the break while it lasts and take a breath, because after that you're in for an almost non-stop barrage of drums, counter melody, and so much going on at once you think you're going to have an aneurysm (in a good way... if such a thing is possible?). These elements combined with an exceptionally clean and thick production value have already sky-rocketed this one into #1 on the Drudkh-meter (Yes, even better than Blood in Our Wells).

I don't want to pull my usual point by point review this time around, I'm confident that the music will speak for itself. Both fans of the new and older material will understand exactly what I mean when you give this album the inaugural listen. A nice balance between slow depression, and raw anger are just accentuated by everything the band has to offer. Even the occasional acoustic riff just hammers down all the elements and themes of a perfect Drudkh album. I cannot stress it enough : This album is flawless. Even though we're but a week and a half into February, I will be hard pressed to find a better Black Metal album unless Emperor decide to reunite and pull out "Anthems Part II".

The album gets released on February 24th. If you are a fan of Black Metal, I recommend you buy as many copies as you can, and give them to anyone who doesn't like the style to convert them. I wish I never heard this album so I can hear it again it's that phenomenal.

TRACKLISTING:

1. Eternal Circle
2. Breath of Cold Black Soil
3. When Gods Leave Their Emerald Halls
4. Farewell to Autumn's Sorrowful Birds
5. Night Woven of Snow, Winds and Grey-Haired Stars