DRUNEMETON is a Russian one-man black metal band who formed in 2014. “Tir Nan Og” is their fifth full-length album; they have also released two splits, a demo and a compilation. The mastermind behind the project, Grannus, goes all out on this album. It’s raw where it needs to be, mostly in the vocals and guitars, but the production and mix is clear enough where everything can be heard but not too clean to the point where the music loses its bite. A lot of one man bands are clearly more comfortable with some instruments over others. That may or may not be the case with Grannus but if it is, he doesn’t show it. Everything here is played to perfection. He’s not slouch on vocals either, his throaty blackened screams being just what the music needs.

In fact, when this album gets aggressive, it gets really aggressive. This is black metal afterall and the album embraces it. However, it also embraces a wide, dynamic sound. Symphonic, epic, melodic, and even folk are words I could use to describe what is happening throughout the album. But it’s hard to pigeonhole because, not only does it incorporate a lot of ideas, it does so in such a way that it’s one big sound that never sounds bloated or overdone. Each piece has its place in the album’s overall tapestry. In essence, there is a lot going on here but it unravels itself with ease so the listener is never overwhelmed. The album begins with the aptly titled “Intro,” and it’s mostly just sound bytes and, honestly, kind of distracting and not the best way to get the album started. However, that is quickly remedied with the first full song and it only gets better from there.

That song happens to be the title track and it’s a doozy. Snare rolls and flashy cymbal work get the momentum up immediately as the guitars push their way in. The song is taken to the next level when the bass and keys join, presenting a full sound that is very daring and almost theatrical. The drum work is mindblowing and how it works with the bass is equally impressive. As far as black metal goes, the drum/bass combination on the album just might be the best I’ve heard this year so far. The guitars offer up sharp riffing, groove, and atmospheric touches; all three go a long way in driving the flow of the song. “Flight of the Swans,” opens with the movement of water and waves. The riffs follow suit, cascading back and forth like turbulent waters. The bass acts as both a melodic and aggressive undercurrent, holding up the song well. The drums do the same around while the guitars take a direct approach. The later half of the song is all raw power, pushed to the next level by the vocals but near the end when all the elements come together it is quite the towering achievement.

“Underneath The Waves,” begins with audio clips speaking of earthquakes. The music runs with it, acting as one of the more immediate and aggressive songs on the album. The flashes of keys highlight the horrors of destruction. The riffs are absolutely dizzying, a maddening contortion of notes. Throughout the song, the drums and bass ramp up the climax, drop it like a bomb, and pick it back up again. The song is a constant explosion and rebuilding of notes only to embrace destruction again. The final song is “Haven In Flames,” and it’s one of my favorites on the album. The vocals mesh well with the songs, like an unstoppable force from which there is nothing to do except accept. The riffs are surprisingly jaunty and catchy with atmospheric and, slightly, playful keys sprinkling down upon them.

A lot of the rhythms are tight, the bass and drums especially gripping–the middle portion of the song is very intense. The song grabs hold of those reins until near the end when it expands to atmospheric and sweeping passages to end the song, and album, the only way it could. DRUNEMETON’s “Tir Nan Og,” is a black metal album that steps outside the box even as it holds onto its roots, resulting in a raw but dynamic album that will appeal to a lot of people even if they don’t like black metal.