Here again we have one of those instances where we have a band from a country not typically known for its Metal scene. In this case, there is a particular outfit from Ukraine under the moniker of DRUDKH which has gained a sizeable following and piqued my interest. Not normally a fan of Blackened Pagan Metal, I decided to broaden my horizons and check out their latest album "A Furrow Cut Short". I found what I believe to be a great offering of theirs and one which fans will be very pleased to experience.

Musically, it is comparable to some well-known Norwegian Black Metal bands, however the persistent procession of melodic tinges liken it unto bands in line with Swedish Death Metal that gained a firm foothold in the Nineties. The dirge-like qualities are enhanced by the occasional hint of symphonic resonance particularly in the third track "To the Epoch of Unbowed Poets". The lengthy songs are accompanied by a healthy dose of Vlad's double bass and combined with the atmospheric reverb, they are not too far off the modern Post-Black Metal sound (as is with DEAFHEAVEN).

Lyrically, the themes of Ukrainian history, nature, and poetry are staples of DRUDKH. Though it has been rumoured that the band has extreme political views, they maintain that the rumours are just speculation and are not especially political as individuals. I do appreciate some of the more Pagan aspects of the lyrics, such as ties with Nature and Earth, animals, and the fact that the word "drudkh" means "tree" in Sanskrit.

However straight-forward their approach to the music, they have proven themselves as masters of Metal and essentially legends in their own right, now that they have released their tenth full-length album since coming together as a recording unit in 2003. That is almost a new album every year DRUDKH has existed! "A Furrow Cut Short" is as epic as any of them. They seem to have no trouble coming up with new material and making it easily appreciable, and this album is no exception!