black metal / hard rock
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I've heard a lot of strange albums since I founded this webzine and I feel like I'm about to receive a lot more in the future. Yet, this one really is something odd. It doesn't often happen that I'm this confused about a release. Bukavac is a one-man metal band from North Dakota, US, and, as we know, one-man acts can be quite strange and unique sounding projects.
For starters, I feel that this material could use a better production as is sounds a little goodie-goodie, especially for a black metal album. On the other hand, that basement recording sound reminds me of some of the most obscure black metal acts during the Scandinavian wave. Furthermore, apart from the vocals, I would hardly classify this as black metal.
The album constists of several mid-tempo songs, combining elements of traditional hard rock with doom metal. Combined with these blackened vocals, this mix creates a quite unique sound, highlighting in 'Where The Giant Sleeps' and the dark headbanger 'Sons Of Gia'. So as far as black metal is concerned, I'd either put this next to Venom than Darkthrone. But even there, this is a lot more varied than most bands within those styles, even to the extend of recording a ballad like 'Megalithic Stones'
Besides the ancient metal sound, there's plenty of room for symphonic elements. In fact, the album slowly seem to grow on the listener when these atmospheric elements come in. 'Human' for instance, seems to nudge towards the drone-doom genre and incorporates some great samples. It suddenly gives the album something industrial and I really dig that. 'Tundra Wookie' does something completely and utterly different by being an instrumental psychedelic doom piece.
The songs on 'All The Is Of The Earth' are excellent pieces of dark metal with a blackened edge but I really feel like Bukavac should turn this into a full-band with experienced musicians and take it to the stage. It would still be something odd and quite unique within the genre but it would have the power to blast. There's obviously potential in this act, that's for sure.
Serge
For starters, I feel that this material could use a better production as is sounds a little goodie-goodie, especially for a black metal album. On the other hand, that basement recording sound reminds me of some of the most obscure black metal acts during the Scandinavian wave. Furthermore, apart from the vocals, I would hardly classify this as black metal.
The album constists of several mid-tempo songs, combining elements of traditional hard rock with doom metal. Combined with these blackened vocals, this mix creates a quite unique sound, highlighting in 'Where The Giant Sleeps' and the dark headbanger 'Sons Of Gia'. So as far as black metal is concerned, I'd either put this next to Venom than Darkthrone. But even there, this is a lot more varied than most bands within those styles, even to the extend of recording a ballad like 'Megalithic Stones'
Besides the ancient metal sound, there's plenty of room for symphonic elements. In fact, the album slowly seem to grow on the listener when these atmospheric elements come in. 'Human' for instance, seems to nudge towards the drone-doom genre and incorporates some great samples. It suddenly gives the album something industrial and I really dig that. 'Tundra Wookie' does something completely and utterly different by being an instrumental psychedelic doom piece.
The songs on 'All The Is Of The Earth' are excellent pieces of dark metal with a blackened edge but I really feel like Bukavac should turn this into a full-band with experienced musicians and take it to the stage. It would still be something odd and quite unique within the genre but it would have the power to blast. There's obviously potential in this act, that's for sure.
Serge