![dryas – monumentos à eternidade [demo]](https://www.vm-underground.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Dryas-–-Monumentos-a-Eternidade-Demo-cover.jpg "Dryas – Monumentos à Eternidade [Demo]")
Although Dryad could have several meanings, based on the song titles and mainly the wintry music, it seems to be derived from the term that divides the last ice age into three time periods. This period of about 12,000 years plunged the northern hemisphere into abrupt cold, but only misery it certainly was not. A few animals and plants were resilient enough to withstand the cold, one stiff shrub with beautiful, delicate flowers in particular dominated the tundra-like landscape: the Dryas octopetala.
Musically, this new Portuguese one-man band places itself in the middle of this harsh landscape that, for the attentive observer, is full of wonderful surprises. Dryas is a new project by the musician hidden under the name Insalûbris Infernâlis, the underground devotee would possibly already know him from his work in bands like Infernüs and especially Eremites. With Eremites, he has already explored this particular winter theme. Before the release of the Eremites debut album ‘Revelations’ in 2023 (also Altare Productions), ten years earlier with the ‘Dryas Recent’ demo he already showed his fascination with the icy historical cold and the beauty that comes with it. It is therefore mainly that demo that has served as the blueprint for this latest work by the Portuguese.
That same attentive observer, that person who sees the small beautiful things among all the hardships, will also notice that ‘Monumentos à Eternidade’ is not merely an exact copy of Eremites. While the parallels are unmistakable, Dryas’ basically Raw Black Metal is interrupted more than once with folky passages and pieces best described as Post-Black Metal. In these latter moments, a comparison with the Dutch Fluisteraars is not entirely off the mark.
However, we do not get trumpets, trombones or other jazzy-infused artistic wizardry, the emphasis remains on ambience with the use of piano and flute. The melodies can also be traced back several times to 80’s Wave times, just take a listen to the opening moments of the demo. These interesting and creative twists and turns make Dryas claim a distinct musical identity of their own with ‘Monumentos à Eternidade’.
In case you were startled by the term Post-Black Metal, don’t be afraid though. The demo will still more than pass the scrutiny of the Raw Black Metal aficionado, but it should be clear that Dryas, although in depth the music is much like the later Candelabrum work, has more colors to offer than the average Lo-Fi demo on the Altare Productions label.
Altare Productions
- Country: Portugal
- Style: Black Metal
- Links: Homepage, Youtube
