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)
Distant Cry of Cranes
Drudkh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Понад діброви, зжовклим листом вкриті
Понад стернища, зимним вихром биті
З плачем сумним, мов плач по кращій долі
Понад селища бідні, непошиті
Хатки, обдерті і пусті стодоли
Понад люд темний, сумовитий, голий
Куди? Куди? Чи в кращий край зелений
Залитий світлом, зіллям умаєний
На нитку мов нанизані, мчите ви?
О, ждіть! Ось в млистій і вогкій ярузі
З крилом підтятим брат ваш сохне в тузі
Візьміть мене в путь, браття! Де ви? Де ви?
The lyrics of Drudkh's "Distant Cry of Cranes" describe a scene of mournful longing and uncertainty. The opening lines depict a sweeping landscape, with fields, mountains, and forests all draped in the yellowed autumn leaves. The singer laments the desolation of the land, mentioning abandoned farms and empty barns. Above it all, a flock of cranes cries out in a sorrowful melody, seeming to mirror the singer's own sense of loss.
As the song progresses, the singer directs their words to the cranes themselves, asking them where they are headed on their journey across the murky blue skies. The image of the cranes' flight becomes a symbol of hope and possibility, as the singer imagines them flying towards a brighter, greener land bathed in light and verdant growth. The final verse takes a more desperate turn, as the singer pleads with the cranes to take them along on their journey, offering themselves as a companion to the birds in their quest for a new home.
Overall, "Distant Cry of Cranes" is a lyrically rich and evocative song that explores themes of displacement, longing, and the search for a better life. The image of the cranes in flight provides a poignant counterpoint to the desolate landscape, suggesting that even in the face of despair, there is always the possibility of renewal and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Понад степи і поле, гори й доли
Above the vast expanses of fields, mountains and valleys
Понад діброви, зжовклим листом вкриті
Above the forests covered in yellowed leaves
Понад стернища, зимним вихром биті
Above the barren fields beaten by winter storms
З плачем сумним, мов плач по кращій долі
You cry a solemn cry as if mourning for a better fate
Понад селища бідні, непошиті
Above the poor and bare villages
Хатки, обдерті і пусті стодоли
Huts, torn and empty barns
Понад люд темний, сумовитий, голий
Above the dark, mournful and destitute people
Ви пливете по млистому блакиті
You sail on the muddy blue waters
Куди? Куди? Чи в кращий край зелений
Where to? Where to? To a better green land
Залитий світлом, зіллям умаєний
Filled with light and infused with herbs
На нитку мов нанизані, мчите ви?
Are you rushing like beads on a string?
О, ждіть! Ось в млистій і вогкій ярузі
Oh, wait! Here in the damp and muddy ravine
З крилом підтятим брат ваш сохне в тузі
Your brother with his outstretched wings is drying up in the dampness
Візьміть мене в путь, браття! Де ви? Де ви?
Take me on your journey, brothers! Where are you? Where are you?
Writer(s): roman sayenko, ivan franko
Contributed by Carson P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
fatpoke420
this song is truly one of drudkh's best. I love how fresh it sounds, the atmosphere of being outside in the grassland in the center of a huge forest at the foothill of a snow covered mountain as the rain just subsided simply standing there and embracing nature. truly awesome!
EnvenomAscension
I cannot wait for this to come out! This sounds amazing.
Andrea Fiori
This is my favorite track of this album. I love this band
Dennis Rot
I'd say different...not sloppy. Just not the typical drumming in black metal. Actually it was one of my favourite parts of Estrangement, so emotional and atmospheric...Guess I must be the weird one. By the way the drums are totally missing on the new album (listening to it now)
Laura G
wow, i liked this from the very first second even though i'm not a big fan of black metal...that's the atmosphere!
Sythaz
Loved this CD, great song. I like how the ending of this song sounds like something off autumn aurora.
ivan petrov
Wow. That snare at 2:50!
Daniel Eklöv
6:50 is magic
EnvenomAscension
I really really want the box set edition with the CD of Anti-Urban and the t-shirt, but I can't afford $70.
Dennis Rot
I tried really hard, not to hear the new songs until the album is released, I really tried...but failed.