Drudkh was founded by Roman Saenko, the leading member of Hate Forest; Thurios, the leading member of Astrofaes; and Yuriy Sinitsky, of Lucifugum and Definition Sane. Their strongly folk-influenced music focuses on a dense atmosphere with a lot of feeling, and the lyrical contents embrace Slavic mythology, seasons and poetry. Many of the band's lyrics are derived from the works of nineteenth and twentieth century Ukrainian poets, especially Taras Shevchenko.
"During all its history, the band followed a 'no photos, no interviews, no website, no gigs' policy, which was nobly accepted by Drudkh's new label Season of Mist. The absence of any comments or information from Drudkh's side gave an opening to a few ignorant internet warrior-fans to spread rumors, that the band embraces extreme political views. This is absolutely misleading and a total profanation, since there is nothing in Drudkh's music or lyrics that would suggest any political outlook. Drudkh praise individualism, self-improvement and estrangement from modern values." Roman Saenko (2008)
Discography:
2003 – Forgotten Legends
2004 – Autumn Aurora
2005 – Лебединий шлях (The Swan Road)
2006 – Кров у наших криницях (Blood in Our Wells)
2006 – Пісні скорботи і самітності (Songs of Grief and Solitude)
2007 – Anti-Urban (EP)
2007 – Відчуженість (Estrangement)
2009 – Microcosmos
2010 – Пригорща зірок (Handful of Stars)
2010 – Slavonic Chronicles (EP)
2012 – Вічний оберт колеса (Eternal Turn of the Wheel)
2014 – Thousands of Moons Ago / The Gates (split with Winterfylleth)
2014 – Eastern Frontier in Flames (Compilation)
2015 – Борозна обірвалася (A Furrow Cut Short)
2016 – Той, хто говорить з імлою / Pyre Era, Black! (One Who Talks with the Fog / Pyre Era, Black!) (split with Hades Almighty)
2016 – Зраджені сонцем / Hägringar (Betrayed by the Sun / Hägringar) (split with Grift)
2017 - Десь блукає журба / Schnee (IV) (Somewhere Sadness Wanders / Schnee (IV)) (split with Paysage d'Hiver)
2018 - Їм часто сниться капіж (They Often See Dreams About the Spring)
Білявий день втомився і притих
Drudkh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
І з глибини блакитного спокою
Прямує сонце тихою ходою
До роздоріжжя вечорів смутних.
Не довгий час спиняється у них,
Поломеніє пізньою красою,
Немов на обрій зводить за собою
І дня нема. Та променисто-ніжний
На ясне небо, на простір надсніжний
Розлився світ і не пускає тьми;
Лиш місяць срібний тихше і смутніше
Ті ж візерунки темносині пише
На білих шатах пишної зими.
The Ukrainian lyrics in Drudkh's song "Білявий день втомився і притих" (Blonde day tired and silent) speak of an exhausted and quiet day that is drawing to a close. The sun is setting on this day, and it seems to be headed towards the junction of sad and melancholic evenings to come. The day does not linger there for too long, passing quickly as it yields to the beauty of the late evening. It conjures up dreamlike illusions that are characterized by a shimmering golden color imbued with a hint of bloodiness. The day itself is non-existent, and only the silver moon writes dark blue patterns on the white splendor of the winter snow.
The song speaks to the idea of the ephemeral nature of time and existence. The imagery that is evoked seems to suggest that beauty is fleeting, and that the moments of joy and happiness are brief and they will quickly give way to a deep sadness. The song's haunting melody adds to the sense of melancholy that the lyrics evoke. The lyrics appearing in this song exemplify Drudkh's commitment to incorporating elements of Ukrainian folk music into their black metal sound, which provides a powerful conduit for expressing their cultural identity and artistic sensibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Білявий день втомився і притих,
The tired and quiet blonde day,
І з глибини блакитного спокою
From the depths of blue peace
Прямує сонце тихою ходою
The sun moves with a gentle pace
До роздоріжжя вечорів смутних.
Towards the crossroads of sad evenings.
Не довгий час спиняється у них,
It does not linger long there
Поломеніє пізньою красою,
It breaks with late beauty,
Немов на обрій зводить за собою
As if it's taking with it to the horizon
Примари мрій криваво-золотих;
The phantoms of bloody-golden dreams;
І дня нема. Та променисто-ніжний
And there is no day. But radiantly tender
На ясне небо, на простір надсніжний
On the clear sky, on the space above the snow
Розлився світ і не пускає тьми;
Light has spread and it does not let darkness;
Лиш місяць срібний тихше і смутніше
Only the silver moon quieter and sadder
Ті ж візерунки темносині пише
Draws the same dark blue patterns
На білих шатах пишної зими.
On the white robes of the magnificent winter.
Writer(s): Sayenko Roman
Contributed by Callie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.