Drautran - Throne of the Depths

Drautran starts off mellow, if it didn't have the spooky bubbling sounds you might mistake this for some folk record but it's only to ease you in. They did it really effectively. First come the acoustics, then the drums, then vocals, then guitars and by the time first song finishes and the second one comes in you're in the fucking boiling point that starts smacking everything around. 

The synths continue throughout but the album is much more aggressive and lively than you would presume from the first track. Rich in composition, melody and controlled chaos this band mostly reminds me of Emperor (at least older Emperor) and this mood is helped by excellent synths that drive in the background. Surprisingly they're not that tacky or out of place for this album. Usually synths get in the way of more aggressive bands but I think they fit really nice here for the most part.

Overall the album tries its hardest to bring an epic, loud and detailed atmosphere with oppressive sounds but they are often split up by more quieter parts that serve as a much needed breather. It's a dynamic that works for them and I found no difficulties going through the album several times. It's a real shame Drautran managed to release just one album but they definitely left a mark with it.

Get.