Drungi – Hamfarir Hugans Review | Angry Metal Guy

I like ‘fans of’ or ‘related artists’ shorthands. In the face of endless genre debate, it’s a shortcut to keeping up with potential fans and new music. It has its limitations, of course; for one, you should actually know the groups to get an idea of ​​what might be up your alley. Additionally, groups can exploit it by pointing to a group of popular groups, even if their style is only related. Key point: ad page for The mouse‘s self-initiated Mental Disorders included such a strange announcement in their FFO, I was immediately suspicious. Letters of the day, Fraud, Black Sabbath, Gojira and Manowar. What in the world could sound like all the others at the same time?

Against all odds, Mental Disorders it actually manages to tick most of those boxes in a way, without losing any coherence. The first person is a close relative: Letters of the day‘s and bleak moods and post-folk-metal textures are instantly recognisable. But instead of frozen lands, The mouse uses that palette to paint cave paintings of ancient warfare and dark culture. The rough vocals recall the traditional style of their countrymen’s black metal, but the staccato delivery, occasional cleans and female-backed vocals give it a tribal, original sound. Like the riffs, which are relatively simple and straightforward, but have a moving, warlike atmosphere that fits perfectly with the band’s sonic aesthetic. The band doesn’t fall into any one genre, with elements of traditional-, epic doom-, folk- and black metal, combining a sound that can be impressive. The Hangman’s Chair fans in addition to all of the above.

In fact, the most important thing is what Mental Disorders any benefit, and I can happily confirm that once again! Opener “Alda” serves as a kind of microcosm for the album as a whole, offering a repetitive sound with enough soul and air to stave off the threat of repetition, including ruminations and melodies. women’s for the atmosphere, and one traditional sound. it really ruins the song. This kind of simple yet mature songwriting is key to the entire record, along with the consistency of performances that show the band members have more experience making music than the Metal Archives record. The danger of a small band with too much sound is over-reliance on sound without accounting for the differences between songs, but The mouse know how to pay for that. Mid-tempo stompers are similar to openers and upbeat fare like “Skjálfti” or “Ófærð,” and melodic tracks provide a nice change of pace.

However, the team hasn’t gone into outright destruction—or metal speed—still holding the reins. Maybe it’s too hard, as I’m the only one to choose Mental Disorders it would be an unexpected wind. That may sound strange when I’ve spent so much time building the band’s unique sound, but my gripe is less with the album as a whole than with each track. individually. It’s the result of focusing on that core sound, where each song focuses on a single riff that doesn’t change as the song progresses, keeping the pace, energy and atmosphere consistent from from the beginning of the song to the end. That’s part of what makes solos such effective breaks, too. There is evidence The mouse you know this mistake; “Kvika” features a nice break in the middle and builds to a solo from there, but returns to its unnecessary grandeur at the end.

Still, it’s a minor complaint, especially for a band that has managed to carve out its niche with a unique sound but combined with solid performances for their first and uncharted album. It’s about a combination of killer talent, inspiration, and a hell of a work ethic. I hope The mouse is willing to dig deep and mine deeply in its approach, because this outfit has the potential to go far. Mental Disorders it’s just the first step.

---

Details: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format checked: 320 kbps mp3
label: An act of resignation
Websites: drungi.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/drungiiceland
Publications Worldwide: April 5, 2024

Surrender Your Anger: