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I’m trying to imagine in my head how an interview with Ukrainian black metallers Drudkh would pan out. Their new album, ‘Microcosmos’ on Season Of Mist, as James Hinchliffe describes in this month’s review section is a “sleek, glossy granite block of grown-up, purposeful black metal” and as such is gunning for my personal album of the year accolade, despite it being teetering ever so on the edge of barely the six-month mark. Yet the band themselves remain shadowed by a cloak of mystery, with a staunch no-interviews, no-photos, no-gigs policy. ‘Microcosmos’ is just another slice of stunning, emotionally-draining, black metal that pulls you into its universe but leaves you questioning about the genius behind it.
So while I pleaded, begged and stamped my feet in a tantrum and was still told the interview embargo wouldn’t budge, not even if I said please, I descended into a fantasy world, iPod on a Drudkh playlist shuffle and dreamed of a conversation with Roman Saenko.
Me: “Hi Roman, gee, your new album is pretty rad.”
Roman: “Why my dear, thank you.” (In my dream he looks like Rhett Butler, don’t ask why)
Me: “We should walk across the cosmos, discussing in depth your woes, your trials and tribulations, the lengths you go to in order to pen such sweet sorrow, such paeans of pain and pleasure, of expansive plains and claustrophobic catharsis.”
Roman: “Woman, do not bother me with such trifles, my journey is one best walked alone.”
Me: “But Roman, where shall I go, what shall I do?”
Roman: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
Bugger – even my dreams hate me.
Thankfully 1349, Coalesce, Saint Vitus, Obituary and Clutch had no such problems spilling the beans on their latest opus’ of magnificence. Take that Drudkh, yeah, that teached you.
Louise Brown, editor
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