The boundaries between Black Metal and Hardcore aren’t as thick as many might think. In the early days of the Second Wave of Black Metal, IMPALED NAZARENE showed a form of Black/Death/Thrash Metal mixed with influences of Hardcore/Grindcore that was deep and ample, in a form that could reach fans of many different extreme Metal genres, what they did. Such formula can be used under different points of view, as done by the Polish trio SCRÜDA on its first album, “Fury Among Ruins”.

It's clear that the trio uses an Old School Black/Thrash Metal approach on its music, relying on influences from MOTÖRHEAD (as heard clearly on “Vile Alliance”), VENOM, BATHORY, SODOM and other tyrants of the 80s, but the differential part of their work is the clear Hardcore insight on many moments (pay attention to the length of time of the songs to have a clear proof of it). It means that it sounds aggressive and sharp, but always with excellent hooks inherited from Hardcore. Then, what are you waiting for to take a bite on it?

Michał Dashke and Ignacy Macikowski worked on the recordings, with Will Killingsworth working on the mixing and mastering, and they gave to the band’s songs a very good sonority, because it sounds aggressive and nasty, but defined and understandable in a level that’s hard to hear on such genre. And the choice for instrumental tunes was wise to keep things a bit more into an Old School form. And on the graphic arts, XXV The Sign (layout) and Kuba Górniak (cover art, design) did a fine work, simple and that holds the spirit of the trio’s music.

The album endures few more than 18 minutes, so it’s simple to hear. But to like it is something easy as you experience “Philosophy”, “Lone Duelist”, “Ape from Hell”, “Hellfire Glow”, “Kill”, “Swords”, “Frozen Heart”, “Bonded by Hate”, “Vile Alliance” and “When a World Ended”. There’s no need to explain details, because the contrasts between growls, screams and snarls of the vocals, the excellent and catchy work on the guitar riffs and the solid massacre of bass guitar and drums keeps their level on all the songs.

SCRÜDA is a fine revelation, and hope that “Fury Among Ruins” is just a first of a huge sequence of releases of the trio!