Despite being 'only' an EP, to this day I contend that (spoiler alert!) this is one of the best metal recordings to come out of Romania. Not that I'm claiming to be an expert in this particular field. Confession time: I've been a metalhead for most of my life, but exploring what Romanian bands have to put on the table has been a somewhat recent thing for me. But I digress. The point is that this was a major step forward for Bucovina; their previous record and first full-length album - Ceasul aducerii-aminte - had good music on it, but felt rather amateurish in its execution. Duh, on the other hand, feels like something that came out on an actual big label despite being self-released.

The record opens with a kickass instrumental track - Vuiet de negru izvor - whose opening riff served as a ringtone on my phone for quite awhile. Yeah... objectivity? Don't look for it here. It's overrated anyway and when it comes to artistic expression it's also mostly a myth. Next up is the track that gives this EP its name (or was it the other way around?!). The guitar and vocals soar majestically above the (occasionally) pummeling drums. Too bad you guys can't understand the lyrics. No, I didn't mean the two Romanians guys reading this. I meant, you know, the 'foreigners'.

Now being an EP, Duh is obviously shorter than a typical album, but it's a case of working to the record's benefit. It feels, powerful and concise. It's hard for me to pick a standout track, but if I had to do it I'd choose Mestecăniș, maybe because it leans heavily on harsh vocals, something that Bucovina doesn't do as much as I'd like them to. I remember I once tried to translate the lyrics of this song into English; they're probably still floating around on Youtube somewhere, but they certainly didn't do the originals justice. I feel like I also have to give a mention to Straja, a masterful adaptation of a traditional folk song from Bucovina. The historical region, not band. Again, the lyricism, man... the lyricism!

Duh may have been followed by three full-length albums, but to my mind none of them top the sheer awesomeness of this EP. Not even Sub stele, probably their best full-length album. Again, it's probably due to the nature of an EP: Duh never gets a chance to feel same-y nor does it need to pad out its contents like Bucovina's LPs - and most LPs for that matter - tend to do. The closest thing to padding this record does is the final track - Bucovina, inima mea. However I'd say this acoustic reworking of a song from their first album is still good enough to work rather well as an epilogue of sorts.

Ah, shit... I just realized I did it: this is basically a track by track 'review'. One of the most amateurish things a reviewer could do. Thank Zalmoxis this isn't a review then.

Written by Răzvan on 28.04.2020 at 01:17

Almost a review

I have to agree, this was Bucovina's finest hour. Even though now I'm about as excited for new Bucovina as I am for a new Logan Paul video (hint: not at all), I can't deny how great this and Sub Stele were.

Written by RaduP on 28.04.2020 at 07:40

I have to agree, this was Bucovina's finest hour. Even though now I'm about as excited for new Bucovina as I am for a new Logan Paul video (hint: not at all), I can't deny how great this and Sub Stele were.

Indeed, Sub stele was a very good album. It's been pretty much going downhill since then. When I heard the last album I was very underwhelmed. The only song I loved from that album wasn't even really from the album. Așteaptă-mă dincolo (de moarte) was a single quite a long time before the album came out. Maybe it's not even that great of a song and it's just the emotions of Colectiv messing with me.

Anyway... Bucovina seem to have lost their mojo; maybe they didn't have that much of it to begin with.

Written by Răzvan on 28.04.2020 at 10:39

Indeed, Sub stele was a very good album. It's been pretty much going downhill since then.

The first time I saw them live was right after Sub Stele was released and I think they played ALL their songs, it was one of the best concerts I had been to at that time.

I have seem them about 5 times since, each more disappointing than the next. They really lost it.