Drugoth - Battles May Cease But War is Forever

From the depths of middle Earth, Drugoth entrench themselves in the glory of bloodshed on album number three. The battle-hardened Aussies look onwards and upwards to the sky, never dropping their guard, their solidarity. On Triumph Born of Bloodshed, The Lord of Terror and Dread sings:

No backwards step and no turn of heel.

The lyric sets the scene for Battles May Cease, But War is Forever. The record is a self-empowering slab of raw Black Metal and pure combat warfare, this is the nullification of weakness.

Drugoth has come a long way fast since Unto the Darkness Sworn, only released 3 years ago, their debut was raw, but the blueprint was set  - true Udun Black Metal. Drugoth are uncompromising – forever they will remain with the single kick pedal, but they write incredibly catchy songs that at times firmly edges into Black n Roll territory. The two-man band have added bass into the recording, and as a result the sound is more rounded, especially with Shogoraath’s unearthly gutturals finding a lower register, deeper into the mix, like a lumbering earthquake.

Drugoth’s ability to write catchy songs has always been there, but the moments on Battles May Cease… are infectious, and you only have to wait 30 seconds for the first of those moments as a unique skanky beat appears, dropping your jaw to the floor, and you sort of want to dance a little to it.

Groove is a killer ingredient that Drugoth add during pivotal moments of the record, just when a section of unrelenting blast beat savagery settles in like a bludgeoning battle-axe, Drugoth will shift things in a very cool way. The guitar tone is callous and filthy, but the production is remarkably clear for a dirty black metal album. The tracks never rest upon a singular idea, there is incredible energy all over this record and Drugoth’s vocals are delivered like a summoning, often over a reverb shower of vile proportions.

Drugoth shift the herald of woe for the legions of ravenous marching warriors again. The Orcs are armed and ready! War is forever and this is a stunning release that you will find wanting more and more of.