Band:	Drudkh
Album:	Autumn Aurora
Style:	Atmospheric black metal, Pagan black metal
Release date:	February 01, 2004
Guest review by:	Slayer666

01. Fading
02. Summoning The Rain
03. Glare Of Autumn
04. Sunwheel
05. Wind Of The Night Forest
06. The First Snow

Summer is at its end. A tranquil forest, majestic and lush, marks this passing. The intense green slowly fades, only to be replaced by all shades of yellow. The peaceful brook still flows, only its calming sound is no longer accompanied by a choir of singing birds. The skies have turned gray, and the sun barely manages to sneak a few rays through thick, heavy clouds. The first autumn rain falls, soaking the ground covered with a thick layer of mushy leaves. Winds howl through treetops, some of them naked, some still maintaining their colorful crowns. The air grows even colder, the brook freezes, and the first snowflake hits the ground, only to be followed by countless more, graciously floating through the air, which smells of the first snow. Can you picture this scene of autumn flowing by you?
Can you imagine what it would sound like, turned into music made by fast-paced drums, hissing guitars and background synths? Well, Drudkh certainly could.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to present to you that which is one of the best atmospheric black metal albums that came out in this decade. The one and only Drudkh need very little introduction, as they have already reached a certain popularity both within underground circles and somewhat beyond. Autumn Aurora gets my vote for their crowning achievement. They showed us that black metal doesn't always need to be icy-cold and hateful, and that it can also be tranquil, warm, but still melancholic.

On a technical side, don't expect anything spectacular. Drudkh have almost always been a band that relies on somewhat simple musicianship to create a beautiful atmosphere. The same riff can go on chugging for ages, with only some slight background changes. Song structures also have the trait of minimalism, as there are often 2 or 3 different sections in a song that switch between each other. Some might find this kind of musical approach boring and tedious, but it actually creates a very droning/hypnotizing effect which is a large part of this album's undeniable charm. Besides, you could say that the songs are quite varied between each other. "Glare of Autumn" and "Summoning the Rain" remain on the neutral ground between melancholy and cheerfulness, "Sunwheel" is quite up-beat, "Wind of The Night Forests" shows this band's darker side and "The First Snow" is pretty much an Ethereal song, definitely the most sorrowful one on the album. As a downside, I have to mention that "Autumn Aurora" feels slightly shorter than it should be. Drudkh should have put at least one more song on it. Also, I believe that just a slightly better production would have been better on this album, as some elements of the music would have been more audible and enjoyable that way. However, these are minor flaws and in no way will they hamper your listening experience.

There you have it. If you ever need a soundtrack for a walk in the woods during autumn, or you're simply looking for excellent atmospheric black metal that isn't about "northern frost and grimness", know that this album is a perfect choice. It may not be a technical masterpiece, or a revolutionary breakthrough, but it sure is a shining gem of its genre.