YGG - The Last Scald
Ashen Dominion
YGG are a Ukrainian black metal act who I got into years ago via their self titled debut from 2011. Of course I moved towards them like a moth to a flame because they had two former NOKTURNAL MORTUM members in their line-up. Hey I'm a fan but also on this latest one, nine fuckin years later, there's still certain aspects which are still around.
First off who the fuck starts off their black metal album off by playing a vargan (aka: a Jews harp)? Yeah well that's what was on their first album and it's starts things off here as well. Bassist/vocalist Vrolok plays that vargan up, with some tribal drum work by Odalv. And then boom it's black metal time. Vrolok proceeds to utilize the vargan as well as some sort of flute throughout this release. There's your folk element.
YGG are glorious in their way of pushing the familiar. Think of the characteristic Ukrainian black metal sound. You've got those layers of atmosphere wedged in-between the melodic cascading riffs and drumming which propels everything forward. The icy sheen of the riffs brings to mind BURZUM. Once in a while the vocals also add to it especially the tortured howls and screams.
Listening to this, especially on a cold cloudy afternoon like today, is like welcoming an old friend you haven't heard from in a while. These four lengthy cuts bring about that whole dissonant sound of the genre re-enforcing that air of majesty that other Ukrainian acts of past and present have. Albeit this band does contain an identity all their own. A great return for YGG.
http://www.ashen-dominion.com/
https://yggmusic.bandcamp.com/album/ygg-the-last-scald
https://www.facebook.com/YGGofficial/
No comments:
Post a Comment