This is the album that inspired me to review albums as a hobby. Very rarely have I came across a piece of music that deeply motivates me to share its greatness with everyone I know, but this is that rare occasion.
Blood In Our Wells was released in 2006 and is the 4th album by the Ukrainian Black Metal band Drudkh. Now, some would argue that Autumn Aurora is the bands best work, I would say its a close second with Blood In Our Wells being first.
Autumn Aurora is unique in the sense of its captivating theme of nature that is portrayed throughout the album and the seasonal changes that are brought to the table with each song. Whether it be the sound of rainfall, the dancing of leaves in the forest, or the sound of birds chirping, they all give the album a very primitive earthy feel, while at the same time not taking away from Drudkh's heavy, emotional, hypnotic sound. Drudkh has a great ability to flow songs perfectly into one another with a particular theme in mind. Autumn Aurora has me feeling more connected and in touch with the splendor of nature in its purest and most natural form; Where man doesn't come and fuck it up. To sum it up, Autumn Aurora is one of those albums that will put me in a sleep, not because of boredom, but because of its brilliant tranquility.
Blood In Our Wells on the other hand, takes me on a journey which encompasses the honest, raw, human emotions that come with triumph, setbacks, betrayal and melancholy, while keeping the hypnotic sound of Drudkh very much in form. It shows musically and visually, what its like when man comes and destroys something beautiful because since the beginning of man, we have been killing each other, raping other's women, and burning their land and crops. That's exactly what this album portrays with its music, name and artwork; it paints a picture of extreme loss. Drudkh's ability to channel that energy into their music never fails to leave a swelling in my heart of utter ecstasy when finished.
I have no negative criticism to how each musician contributed to this album. The vocals are not over-powering and in your face throughout the whole album; They drop off for segments at a time with great delicacy and let the music and rhythm sink in. The production job is superb. The songs are long (4 out of the 6 are around 10 mins.) and they do not drag on for a second, which helps contribute to the trance-like feel of this album. Most importantly, while each song is similar, carrying out a specific story, they all sound different and unique. All of which was just mentioned is very typical of the style of Drudkh, this album is just the pinnacle of their unique style. The atmosphere and energy that is created with the bands musical folky chemistry just cannot be topped, not even by Drudkh themselves.
To conclude, this is not an album where you should listen to a few of the songs to see how the album will be. That would be like looking at only a section of a Van Gogh painting; You are ignoring the grand scheme of this beautiful piece of art. This album has to be treated as a whole, from start to finish, for then you might possibly be able to grasp its magnificent story and musical talent.
