Drautran
Throne of the Depths

For my first review, I chose an album that is certainly not easy to review, also because it doesn't seem very well-known. "Throne of the Depths" by Drautran seems like a forgotten record in the deep abyss, in the underground of metal itself.

Each track appears as a mix of symphonic/viking metal, transitioning from moments of "calm" to frantic and frustrating rhythms typical of old-school black metal. The album opens with "Zum Haff hinaus...", a track that suggests a relaxing album, perhaps one of those records bought to unwind while listening to the sound of waves and seagulls on some dream beach. But "Lohen der Opferung" abruptly wakes us from this idea, unleashing a great fury upon us, a sort of stormy sea, making us feel helpless against such power. The drumming is massive, all surrounded by riffs that seem not to spoil and the sharp voices of Thamuz and Blutaar. The beautiful "Sævar Niðr" seems a representation of the abyss itself, so deep and calm, yet at the same time so melancholic in its darkness. It almost seems out of place, especially after the fury of the first songs, but maybe it isn't, after all, after the storm, there is always calm, or maybe not?

Well, it's a pity this doesn't last long. In fact, "Styrt ned i Mælstraumen" and "Dusk of the Fimbulwinter" open like a war charge, a new storm made of riffs, hammering, and atmospheres that seem to rip apart all that calm previously regained. 

We are faced with an album that certainly does not stand out for innovation or technical quality, but undoubtedly it is a good effort by Drautran, a band formed in 1996 in Kiel. A work that certainly is above average and, at least personally, I greatly appreciated the diversity of "musical elements" that can be found throughout the listening experience. Let's not forget that the title means "Throne of the Depths" and perhaps this is an album that does not claim to be one of the best but aims to be an excellent listen for those who are capable of exploring the depths of the musical underground.