Info
- Band(s): Drunemeton
- Label(s): Heidens Hart Records
- Release Format(s): CD
- Release Year: 2024
- Review Date: August 24, 2024
- Author(s): FelixS
The man behind Drunemeton, who is from Russian origin but currently resides in Serbia, Europe, has had all of his previous releases done by a wide range of different and rather small labels, making the likelihood that you have ran into the music of Drunemeton not all that big. So consequently making it possible that while Drunemeton’s roots go all the way back to 2008 and has indeed quite a respectable discography under its belt, the band could go largely under the radar for many, myself included. That meant that with the release of ‘Tir Nan Og’ I had some serious catching up to do. Which, by no means, was much a punishment.
As I went along with the band on its trail from recording to recording, it is possible to actually hear the music mature and sound more refined and balanced. The maturity is mainly found in the way of skilfully crafting the songs, not so much in what direction Grannus is steering his musical vessel. As he seemingly is a captain with a clearly thought-out roadmap and a firm hand at the helm.
Whether you have listened to the earlier output of the band or just started with ‘Tir Nan Og, it is obvious that Drunemeton is largely based on the musical heritage of Graveland. The album, that almost reaches the 60 minute mark, really shows more than a few kind nods to the Polish giants of Pagan Black Metal. The triumphant riffing, the heroic melodies, the croaking vocals… It all sounds awfully familiar. Yet, while songs like ‘Flight Of The Swans’ or the following ‘The White Ship’ indeed have more than just a bit of Graveland in their DNA, it by no means feel like a cheap exercise of mere copycatting. Instead it feels like a true and honest homage to a sound that for long has been ridiculed or simply ignored. But Drunemeton brings it back in all its glory and splendour.
The music is heavily laced with orchestrated with keyboards, horns, flutes and the likes, pretty much like what made Falkenbach stand out in the late 90’s and Graveland started to do around the ‘Creed Of Iron’ LP from 2000. A truly epic sound practised almost without exception by Eastern European bands. But, unlike most other bands, including Graveland, ‘Tir Nan Og’ is larded with a multitude of film samples, including one from ‘The Wicker Man’, hence the cover. So no heroic battle scenes, clanging armour and the like. I don’t necessarily want to say that it really detracts from Drunemeton’s musical glory, but it still feels a bit strange to hear police sirens and passages from a space documentary and the like combined with music usually associated with the bygone heroics of vikings and pagans.
That Grannus does not align himself with the well-trodden paths of the Pagan Black Metal genre, by the way, is nothing short of commendable. Why stick to things just because they have always been that way? Exactly. But for those who are musically fond of the genre, ‘Tir Nan Og’ will be able to indulge. For although Drunemeton has little in common musically with Graveland’s third demo tape of the same name, it will certainly please the average Graveland aficionado.
Heidens Hart Records
- Country: Netherlands
- Style: Black Metal
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Youtube
