Drudkh: Microcosmos (2009)

Here is another band it seems like I have been reviewing a lot lately.  Drudkh is of course a Ukrainian black metal band whose sound tends toward the atmospheric side of black metal, instead of the more aggressive sound. 

This is not one of the albums that is typically mentioned when people talk about Drudkh.  Usually the first four or five albums are the ones most often referenced, and in particular, Blood in Our Wells.  The band had settled into a general sound by the time this, their seventh full-length, rolled around.  So this album does not really stand out much from the rest of the band's material.  That in no way is a bad thing, because Drudkh basically do what they do best on this album: atmospheric black metal that feels like the soundtrack to the fall.

The four true songs here are lengthy, lasting on average about ten minutes and they are generally built around a couple of sections.  The songwriting has gotten more complex on this release though and the bass has taken some huge strides to become a leading instrument in the riffing.  And there are some truly impressive guitar solos on this release as well that sound like traditional metal solos.  By and large, this album does make an impact, even though it is somewhat forgotten when looking at the band's career.

This is another quality release from a band that has made a career of them.  It does not quite rise to the level of some of the band's earlier releases, but it stands out amongst some of the band's mid-period releases.  I am still working my way through the Drudkh catalog, but this is a damn good album.