Epic Ukrainian black metallers Drudkh unveil a stunning new track

Features
By ( Metal Hammer ) published

Listen to Drudkh's heart-wrenching odyssey, His Twenty-Fourth Spring, from their forthcoming split EP

Detail from Drudkh/Grift split EP, Betrayed By The Sun/Hägringar

Standard bearers for the Eastern European black metal scene, Drudkh’s impact has reached far beyond their Ukrainian borders, their fiercely open-ended, pastoral pilgrimages influencing the likes of Winterfylleth and a host of other expansive bands for whom nature and the forgotten ghosts of history are more palpable than any entities residing in the various circle below.

Having reached back into darkest black metal past with last year’s A Furrow Cut Short, the band, led by shadowy frontman Roman Saenko, have since forged new alliances, embarking on a series of split EPs. Following on from teaming up with the reformed Hades Almighty, Drudkh are about to release a new split, this time with Swedish solo project Grift. Released on September 16 via Season Of Mist, Betrayed By The Sun/Hägringar contains four vast and heart-wrenching tracks and we have an exclusive stream of Drudkh’s opening epic, the nine-minute-plus His Twenty-Fourth Spring.

With lyrics penned by native Ukrainina poet Bohdan Ihor Antonych, who passed away at the age of 28 in 1937, …Spring’s romantic sweep and subtly shifting moods are sure to resonate outside of any cult enclaves. Any fan of Enslaved or post-black metal will recognise its exploratory zeal, and even fans of Kvelertak can draw parallels with its gristle-charged thrust.

Gaze upon the vast and pitiless horizons above and lost yourself to His Twenty-Fourth Spring right here!

Visit Drudkh’s Facebook page here

And pre-order Betrayed By The Sun/Hägringar here!

Jonathan Selzer
Jonathan Selzer

Having freelanced regularly for the Melody Maker and Kerrang!, and edited the extreme metal monthly, Terrorizer, for seven years, Jonathan is now the overseer of all the album and live reviews in Metal Hammer. Bemoans his obsolete superpower of being invisible to Routemaster bus conductors, finds men without sideburns slightly circumspect, and thinks songs that aren’t about Satan, swords or witches are a bit silly.