Metal Centre
Muzyka: Progressive Melodic Thrash Death Metal
Strona internetowa:
http://druknroll.com/
https://www.facebook.com/modernmetalrock/
https://metalscraprecords.bandcamp.com/album/druknroll-freakingface
Czas trwania: 48:38 minut (10 utworów)
Jraj: Rosja
Po 14 latach istnienia rosyjski DRUKNROLL wypuścił szósty album.
Kolejny album niemiłosiernie zmienny i dynamiczny, aż do szaleństwa. Album ten zalicza się do tych, które należy przesłuchać kilka razy by dotrzeć do wszystkich dźwięków. To istna nawałnica, która bezlitośnie świdruje mózg swoimi aranżacjami, które z kolei bardzo szybko pojawiają się jedna po drugiej, atakują, często nieoczekiwanie, innym razem wyłaniają się stopniowo. Ostatecznie doprowadzają do szaleństwa.
Muzyka jest totalnie pokręcona, zarazem mordercza, chwilami bardzo psychotyczna, też nieco psychodeliczna i oparta głównie na szybkich miażdżących rytmach i gitarowych riffach wzbogaconych o różnorodne gitarowe melodie, solówki, a także klawiszowe wtręty, akcenty i zagrywki.
Owe multi-tematyczne thrash-death-metalowe tematy nie tylko miażdżą i porządne kopią ale także (jednak o wiele rzadziej) wprowadzają w spokojniejszy ton, dziwaczno-balladyczny, bardziej melodyjny, nieco melancholijny. Także pewne momenty zbliżają się w stronę groove. Niektóre motywy zaskakują, jak partie basu, czyste gitary, dźwięki klawiszy, żeński śpiew,czy sample albo skomplikowane perkusyjne łamańce.
Wokalnie jest również wielowymiarowo… Dominują mocne wrzaskliwe wokalizy, wręcz chwilami growlingi. Ale też pojawiają się śpiewane frazy i tajemnicze melorecytacje.
Atmosfera jaka panuje na albumie jest mroczna, tajemnicza i jak wcześniej wspomniałem bardzo psychotyczna, też jakby z innego wymiaru, co miejscami nasuwa skojarzenia z filmami grozy, horrorami.
Freakingface” to progresywne połączenie potężnego i dynamicznego grania z dziwaczną melodyjnością.
9/10
27 listopada 2020 By Pavel
WORLD OF METAL
Os Druknroll sempre tiveram uma sonoridade peculiar e desde que se voltaram para o death/thrash metal, isso não mudou, optando por umas guinadas estilísticas surpreendentes. O groove é omnipresente assim como o peso mas ainda temos uns elementos que aparecem de surpresa como a pianada no tema-título ou os arranjos de teclados a par da voz feminina que surge na “My Fateful Day”. Apesar disto, não deixamos de sentir alguma unidimensionalidade neste conjunto de temas e que não permite que se tenha uma melhor opinião no final.
7/10
Fernando Ferreira
Greekrebels
giannisseviloglou@gmail.com
Greek Rebels Team 5 Σεπτεμβρίου, 2020 Albums, Κριτικές
amadeus banner greekrebels 1
Οι Ρώσοι είναι γνωστοί για την βότκα, τα Lada και τα ευρέως γνωστά συνολάκια της Adidas μεταξύ άλλων πραγμάτων. Δεν είναι γνωστοί βέβαια για τις μπάντες που βγάζουν (εκτός από τους Slaughter To Prevail ίσως). Το λέω αυτό γιατί παρατηρώ με το νέο δίσκο του Druknroll σχολαστική δουλειά, πάθος για τη σύνθεση και ένα μάτσο από αξιόλογες ιδέες σε αυτό το album.
Η έκτη δισκογραφική δουλειά λοιπόν του οργανοπαίχτη και συνθέτη Druknroll (όχι δεν βρήκα όνομα, ούτε ο ηγέτης της χώρας τους τέτοια μυστικοπάθεια) με τίτλο “Freakingface” μας δίνει μια κλωτσιά με άρβυλο στα δόντια με την καλή βρωμιά του thrash/death metal που αγαπάμε, τύμπανα που θυμίζουν πολυβόλο, ένα κάρο solos και πολλά άλλα. Συντροφεύοντάς τον σε αυτή τη δουλειά, είναι οι Horror και Maria (φωνητικά), Denys Malyuga (πρώτη κιθάρα) και οι Oleg Kireychuk και Alex Knip επίσης στις κιθάρες, μπάσο, πλήκτρα και ηχητικό σχεδιασμό.
Σε περισσότερα κομμάτια του “Freakingface” παρατηρείται η μελωδική έναρξη όπως για παράδειγμα στα “Dead Phone”, “Forever Young” (ακουστική κιθάρα σε αυτά εδώ), “I Multiply The Pain”, “My Fateful Day”, “A Black Hole” και πιάνο στα “Freakingface” και “My Doomed Love”. Και όλα αυτά πριν αρχίσουν να κοπανάνε τα υπόλοιπα όργανα, σε πιάνει απροετοίμαστο για λίγο η ατμόσφαιρα αλλά δεν κρατάει πολύ. Τα δέκα κομμάτια του δίσκου παρέχουν βαριά και γρήγορα riffs γεμάτα στις τρίλιες και στα gallop picking, όμως θα πω ότι δεν διαφοροποιούνται πολύ το ένα με το άλλο. Με χάλασε και το γεγονός ότι η μπότα ακούγεται σα σφαίρα που χτυπάει αλεξίσφαιρο.
Κρίμα κι έχουν πλάκα οι Ρώσοι. Περίμενα περισσότερα δε θα πω ψέματα. Με στεναχωρεί λίγο αυτή η τροπή που έχει πάρει η μουσική ωστόσο (μη δημοφιλής γνώμη αλλά θα την πω), ακούγοντας κάθε λίγο και λιγάκι που βγαίνει ένας δίσκος κομμάτια χωρίς να έχουν κάτι που σε κερδίζει αλλά παράλληλα δεν είναι χάλια, είναι απλά μέτρια. Σε όσους αρέσει το melodic technical death/thrash metal ίσως και να τους αρέσει αυτός ο δίσκος. Θα περιμένω περισσότερα από τον κύριο Druknroll την επόμενη φορά.
5/10
Γιάννης Σεβίλογλου
https://www.greekrebels.gr/druknroll-freakingface-metal-scrap/
Moscow Meltdown
September 22, 2020
Review: DRUKNROLL – Freakingface (2020)
By this point, I was finally convinced that it was almost impossible to categorize Druknroll’s music in any way. When I first got my hands on their disc (“Unbalanced” 2018), their genre was described to me as Melodic Death Metal, and I was immediately upset, because I had listened to so much of this stuff that the mere phrase “melodic death” made me want to yawn. But then I finally deigned to listen to this longplay and somehow didn’t even understand anything at first – undoubtedly, all the components of the above-mentioned genre were there, but… Druknroll’s music was by no means limited to this. And I couldn’t even say that I liked what I heard, but after that I involuntarily caught myself thinking that I wanted to go back to the album and evaluate it anew. And this is the peculiar magic of Druknroll – they are almost impossible to understand and embrace: as if you are looking at an installation of modern art and trying to comprehend the author’s idea, but the meaning eludes you at the last moment, when it seems that you should already reach out and touch it with your fingertips…
To be honest, I expected something similar from the new “Freakingface”: I thought that the musicians would continue their path down the spiral of madness and achieve absolutely shameless results, due to which I could call their style Melodic Avant-Garde Progressive Psychedelic Death Thrash Metal. However, the frustration is that of all these adjectives, only three are relevant now. Yes, compared to the same “Unbalanced”, “Freakingface” turns out to be a fairly straightforward and predictable record. Of course, Druknroll have not abandoned their progressive-technical component at all and still sound quite intriguing, but this time I perfectly understood both their idea and the genre message. So if before they were a kind of stylistic enigma, now they have merged into the general flow of progressive-melodic death. And this is neither good nor bad, since this decision has both its pros and cons.
The negative point is that the overwhelming majority of songs on “Freakingface” seemed very familiar and predictable to me. I have already heard all this both from Druknroll themselves and their brothers in arms, both from Russia and from overseas countries. Perhaps the only exception is the track “A Black Hale”, where the musicians suddenly lose their minds and plunge into such a variety of genres that you can’t even keep up with them. But for the most part, the guys cut fast and technical death metal with a pronounced melody and periodic alternation of harsh and growl. However, don’t get me wrong, the guys have not lost their individuality in any way – their expressive manner of presenting the material and charismatic vocals distinguish them from the competitors. But it cannot be denied that “Freakingface” turns out to be a much more prosaic record: it does not make you lose your head and do not start looking around in an attempt to understand what is happening at all.
But this approach to writing songs generates an important positive factor. Let’s be honest, for all its originality, “Unbalanced” was a very unbalanced (pardon the pun) and uneven album. It felt like Druknroll had a lot of ideas and plans, and they tried to cram them all into one forty-minute creation. It turned out interesting and original, but somehow too chaotic, as if you were trying to eat soup with cabbage, potatoes, carrots, noodles, chicken, fish, and a piece of beef floating around at once… I don’t deny the fact that this approach has its own prospects, but Druknroll failed to realize them: “Unbalanced” is interesting to listen to and put on shelves, but I can’t recommend it as a complete creation. “Freakingface” is a completely different matter: it’s not an album, but a monolith. It sounds dense, powerful, uniform and extremely effective – it’s impossible not to be imbued with the crazy rhythm that the musicians immediately set, and not to shake your head to their technical riffs. The songs are dynamic and bright, and their high-class technical component does not at all come at the expense of their melody. The local opener “Dead Phone” is especially pleasing to the soul, which literally immediately shows us everything we can expect from the album, and the unexpected ballad “Forever Young”, where the drums are so wild that the listener’s skin can involuntarily come off the face – yes, just like on the album cover.
So here’s the moral: sometimes simplicity and straightforwardness are not disadvantages – in cases like with the album “Freakingface”, they become the key to truly killer material, which reveals all the best features of the band to us. Druknroll really put all the energy they had into this album, and it feels in every song – without exaggeration, just a great, albeit not perfect, record.
Nikolay Chuvikov
METAL TEMPLE
Drunkroll-Freakingface
by John Foley at 28 September 2020, 12:25 PM
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Released back in August of 2020, Freakingface is the new album from Saratov, Russia project DRUKNROLL. What started out as a solo project as the years yet on more musicians hopped onboard to make this a band well worth checking out. The album opens with the track “Dead Phone”. The some opens with an acoustic guitar sounding a little like outlaw music. We then get hit with those pounding riffs and killer grooves. Going with death growls for the verse and switching with ease to clean vocals for the chorus and complete with a face melting guitar solo.
Up next is “Fermat’s Theorem” which hits us with a thunderous bass line. Guitars then come in and just take over. The lead guitar work here is really great and so is the pounding off of the double bass pedal work on the drums. Then we get to the title track “Freakingface” which opens like a piano ballad. From the start we get this epic symphonic metal sound which then progresses to a killer groove metal sound similar to something by PANTERA, and present is an amazing sounding middle section.
The song My Fatefull Day” is another good track that opens with a clean and melodic sound. With the vocals of Maria here working hauntingly well along side the male vocals of Horror which makes the to styles mix together really well. With an epic sounding guitar solo the song is very melodic yet very heavy at the same time. “Forever Young” is another song with an acoustic intro and clean vocals. Then heavy riffin’ comes in and we get some cool lead guitar work over the melodic parts. On this track you can really hear the lead guitar work shine.
The last track here is A Black Hole”. Present on this track are some cool melodic riffin’. This is quite a haunting song and is a little atmospheric. An awesome bass line that then leads into a guitar solo. Here you can hear the guitars and the synth/keyboards trading off of one another. Great way to end the album. The Vocals work very well here and the guitar solos sound epic. The riffs got speed, precision and a real groove to them. The sound on Freakingface can only be described as an evolved form of thrash metal. Some killer drum work here to and at parts the album is very melodic at times while the synth/keyboards adds to the overall atmosphere.
Songwriting: 8
Musicianship: 8
Originality: 8
Production: 7
VOLGA Metal Community
INSTALLATION OF CONTEMPORARY ART
By this point I was finally convinced that it was almost impossible to categorize DRUKNROLL’s music in any way. When I first got my hands on their disc (2018’s Unbalanced), their genre was described to me as Melodic Death Metal, and I was immediately upset, because I had listened to so much of this stuff that the mere phrase “melodic death” made me want to yawn. But then I finally deigned to listen to this longplay and somehow didn’t even understand anything at first – undoubtedly, all the components of the above-mentioned genre were there, but… DRUKNROLL’s music was by no means limited to this. Moreover, I couldn’t even say that I liked what I heard, but after that I involuntarily caught myself thinking that I wanted to return to the album and evaluate it anew. And this is the peculiar magic of DRUKNROLL – they are almost impossible to understand and embrace: as if you are looking at a modern art installation and trying to comprehend the author’s idea, but the meaning eludes you at the last moment, when it seems that you should already reach out and touch it with your fingertips…
To be honest, I expected something similar from the new “Freakingface”: I thought that the musicians would continue their path down the spiral of madness and achieve absolutely shameless results, due to which I could call their style Melodic Avant-Garde Progressive Psychedelic Death Thrash Metal. However, the disappointment is that of all these adjectives, only three are relevant today. Yes, compared to the same “Unbalanced”, “Freakingface” turns out to be a fairly straightforward and predictable record. Of course, DRUKNROLL haven’t abandoned their progressive technical component and still sound quite intriguing, but this time I understood both their idea and the genre message perfectly. So if before they were a kind of stylistic enigma, now they have joined the general flow of progressive melodic death. And this is neither good nor bad, since this decision has both its pros and cons.
The negative point is that the vast majority of songs on “Freakingface” seemed very familiar and predictable to me. I have already heard all this from both DRUKNROLL themselves and their brothers in arms, both from Russia and from overseas. Perhaps the only exception is the track “A Black Hale”, where the musicians suddenly lose their minds and they plunge into such a variety of genres that you can’t even keep up with them. But for the most part, the guys cut fast and technical death metal with a pronounced melody and periodic alternation of harsh and growl. However, don’t get me wrong, the guys have not lost their individuality in any way – their expressive manner of presenting the material and charismatic vocals distinguish them from the competitors. But it cannot be denied that “Freakingface” turns out to be a much more prosaic record: you don’t lose your head from it and don’t start looking around in an attempt to understand what is happening at all.
But this approach to songwriting generates an important positive factor. Let’s be honest, for all its originality, “Unbalanced” was a very unbalanced (pardon the pun) and uneven album. It felt like DRUKNROLL had a lot of ideas and plans, and they tried to cram them all at once into one forty-minute creation. It turned out interesting and original, but somehow too chaotic, as if you were trying to eat a soup with cabbage, potatoes, carrots, noodles, chicken, fish, and a piece of beef floating around all at once… I don’t deny the fact that this approach has its potential, but DRUKNROLL failed to realize it: “Unbalanced” is interesting to listen to and put on shelves, but I can’t recommend it as a complete work. “Freakingface” is a completely different matter: it’s not an album, but a monolith. It sounds dense, powerful, uniform and extremely effective – it’s impossible not to be imbued with the crazy rhythm that the musicians immediately set, and not to shake your head to their technical riffs. The songs are dynamic and bright, and their high-class technical component does not at all come at the expense of their melody. The local opener “Dead Phone” is especially heartening, as it immediately shows us everything we can expect from the album, and the unexpected ballad “Forever Young”, where the drums are so wild that the listener’s skin can involuntarily fall off the face – yes, just like on the album cover.
So here’s the moral: sometimes simplicity and straightforwardness are not disadvantages – in cases like with the album “Freakingface”, they become the key to truly killer material that reveals all the best features of the band to us. DRUKNROLL really put all the energy they have into this album, and it feels in every song – without exaggeration, just a great, albeit not perfect, record.
https://vk.com/druknroll_modern_metal?w=wall105739004_885%2Fall
ROCKHARD #60/2020
Ruskl metalovl „kozäcl” DRUKNROLL hrajü mix thrash metalu s prlmesou melodlckeho metalu a Industrlälnych klävesovych prvkov. DRUKMROLL vznlkll ako Projekt muzlkantov zo Saratova. Hlavnym hudobnym mozgom sku-plny je„osoba” sldentlckympseudonymem näzvu kapely. Dotycny multllnstrumentallsta mal na sta-rostl nahratle vsetkych gltaro-vych llnlek, basovej gltary, klävesovych vsuvlek a progranioval dokonca aj blcle nästroje Celkovo Ide uz 0 slesty album tejto sku-plny. Groovle maslna tlacl pred sebou vsetko, co sa jej postavl do cesty. Hudba je strojovä a za-lozenä na sllnych gltarovych rlf-foch, zachädzajüclch do90. rokov, kedy vlädll scene FEAR FACTORY alebo ST ATI C X a je komblRovaRä s moderRyml „souRdom” sücas-Rychkaplel. V spletl sllRych rlffov vyzRlevajü celkom tradlcRe a Rle-kedy ako kllse melodlcke refreRy. HudobRÜ zlozku vyrazne podfar-bujü klävesove vsuvky, vd’aka ktorym hudba Radobüda prlesto-rovy efekt. Desat’ skladleb je Ra-ozaj rozmaRltych, no po dlhsom case je tato hudobRä zmes vel’ml t’azko uchopltelixa a zaradltel’Rä. PÖsobl kontraproduktlvne aj vocl vlastnej tvorbe. I hudobnej pro-dukcle skuplRy je ale cltlt’ SRaha a zaRletenost’, ro po case pocü la sa kapela zmeRl Ra jedRotvär-ru „testosteroRovü” gufu, vallacu saRaposluchäca.
3/5
FILIP GiOCSÖ
LEGACY #128/2020
Uff. es ist gar nicht mal so einfach, die Russen nRnum*. zu stecken. Sie selbst beschreiben ihren Soimri R0LL ,n eine Srh,^ aus melodischem Thrash Metal, Death Metal Svn n)6’06 pro9ressive Weisse Bescheid? Fest steht Auf ih er mS : ym,phon,c Metal uTJB das Quartett in seiner Nische gufsnfeÄSeChsten sÄ» Zehn Songs lang regiert vorwiegend der Knünnpi h 9enau’ was«? ist Beachtlich. Trotz der stilistischen Offenhert Pmh musikalische iSS stnngente Songs^die sich nie in Dudeleien ver«Ln ^ Sich dUfÄ Punkt kommen. Ob das nun Stakkato-Thra«*^’, ?dern Präzise afS Keyboard-versetzter Alternative Metal ^fh-der Ma*e Tlt^TJB
Multiply The Pam oder das drückend-atmosphärischß m ?Sphäre «”e hh .veiblichem Gastbeitrag aufwartet. International Sf ^ ateful (kJ ihres 14-jährrgen Bestehens noch kSSHL’™ °RIWWÄ sie nicht angepasst genug, dazu roacken. oeherrschen sie perfekt, qar keinp l1 St,lnchtungen äS sollten sie ihr mnsikaiicrhoe .’ ra9G. aber für
sollten sie ihr musikalisches Korsett wohl doch etoas hervorzuheben ist übrigens die Produktion dfe alleTJL . Druck und Crispness für ihren Sound ideal in &ene sÄe?rtden,«S freakingface allen Fans von Bands wie Children Of Rrviiüfn emPfa!” oder ln Flames und dürften damit ungefähr die 7ieirü?^ ^Wit, Metajheads sollten hier definitiv ein Ohr eine Menge! (TFR)
11 Punkte
Metal.it
Due anni fa, parlando di “Unbalanced” il quinto album in studio dei sovietici Druknroll, mi rallegravo di come la band di Horror, Druknroll e compagni potesse essere “un piacevole refolo d’aria fresca” in una scena che a volte pare avvitarsi su sè stessa.
Oggi, dopo numerosi ascolti del nuovo sforzo sulla lunga distanza della band “Freakingface”, mi accorgo che il sestetto di Saratov ha forse voluto strafare con le contaminazioni tra generi.
Immergersi nei 48 minuti di durata delle 10 tracce del disco è come mettere la testa nella macchina della risonanza magnetica: non hai mai la certezza di quale suono ti colpirà.
D’altra parte nel flyer stesso di presentazione si afferma che “symphonic, melodic, progressive, alternative, thrash, and melodic death metal, tutto questo possiamo trovare nel nuovo album dei Druknroll”: e mai affermazione è stata più vera.
E quindi ai suoni alternative/metalcore della titletrack e di “Forever Young” si affiancano le cavalcate thrash di “Fermat’s Theorem” e “Destruction Inside”; ai passaggi deathcore e progressive di “I Multiply The Pain” e “I’m a Parasite” i nostri accostano tracce dal sapore gothic (anche grazie alla voce della nuova arrivata Maria) quali “My Fateful Day”, e per non farsi mancare niente anche un rimando al celebre intro di “Five Magics” dei Megadeth nella conclusiva “A Black Hole”.
Un enorme potpourri musicale suonato e prodotto con bravura e competenza ma nel quale è difficile ravvisare un filo logico, una coerenza generale, un’idea portante che non sia quella di mettere sul pentagramma qualsivoglia spunto sia passato per la mente dei musicisti.
“Freakingface” finirà nel mio personale dimenticatoio: mi è stato ostico ascoltarlo per parlarvene e non credo ripeterò l’esperienza.
6/10
Alessandro Zaina
HEADBANGER
The previous album “Unbalanced” (2018) presented long-time listeners of the Saratov project Druknroll with a number of surprises – the transition from Russian to English, the appearance of a second female vocal, the replacement of a live drummer with a drum machine. Either the musicians decided that they had made too steep a turn, and therefore the fans needed to “explain the material covered” once again, or, on the contrary, that album turned out to be very successful, and it was decided to continue its line – one way or another, after two years Druknroll presented us with “Unbalanced”, part two. Again, the material is entirely in English, again Maria helps the main vocalist Uzhas in a single song, again the role of the solo instrument often goes to the bass, again there is a composition dedicated to mathematics (“Fermat’s Theorem”, and last time it was, let me remind you, “Bad Math”), and even the cover is designed by the same studio and in the same style. And again, the drums are “clogged”, and this time they are very noticeably “clogged” – in the pumping parts everything is fine, but at high speeds the sound is too artificial. Fortunately, the “tinned” drums are my only complaint about the updated Druknroll. All the other innovations, in my opinion, suit the band quite well. The English language allows the author of all the material Druknroll to use shorter words and phrases that fit into such intense music much better, and at the same time does not allow him to write on high-flown topics like the history of the Fatherland, which, in my opinion, he has never succeeded in. The female vocals, although appearing only fragmentarily, add a little lyricism to the music, preventing it from turning into a continuous flurry of technical slaughter. And the design by Mosa Eye is in any case better than the rather amateurish design of the project’s early works. But the most important thing is that Druknroll continues to compose easy-to-remember song material, despite all its brokenness, and “Freakingface” adds several more to the already impressive list of the band’s hits – “Dead Phone”, “Fermat’s Theorem”, “I’m A Parasite”. In turn, “Forever Young” is more than justifiably a contender for the title of the best slow song in the entire discography of Druknroll. Of course, “Freakingface” is again not an album for everyone, it is a very individual and fairly underground mix of a number of extreme styles (at least modern metal, melodic death and modern progressive). However, reviews from foreign reviewers are entirely positive, and that part of the domestic audience that turned out to be “open-minded” enough to appreciate the project’s old works can hardly be confused by the change of language. If Druknroll records next time with truly powerful and natural drums and gives the material for revision to some sound guru from Sweden or Denmark, then the Mnemic niche, which has been empty for many years, may well find new owners.
8/10
17.11.2020, Roman P-V
http://headbanger.ru/reviews/album-5100
Metal RuleZ
To już moje czwarte, na przestrzeni kilku ostatnich lat, spotkanie z muzyką rosyjskiego Druknroll. Już przy pierwszym zetknięciu się z tym zespołem, przy okazji albumu z 2014 roku, jakoś niespecjalnie się polubiliśmy… i mam wrażenie że już się nie polubimy. Nie to, żeby ich muzyka była jakoś specjalnie odrzucająca, po prostu w ogóle nie przekonuje mnie to ich podejście do „nowoczesnego metalu”. Podobnie jak w przypadku poprzednich krążków mamy tu bowiem dość szeroki miks melodyjnego death metalu z groove metalem, momentami dość mocno uciekający w progresywne granie. Owszem, są motywy naprawdę dobre, fajnie zaaranżowane i ciekawie spięte z elektroniką. Trafiają się też, podobnie zresztą jak na poprzednich płytach, bardzo konkretne solówki. Niestety wszystko to jest dość nierówne i obok tych fajnych momentów trafiają się też zupełnie nijakie, miałkie i uzupełnione elektroniką brzmiącą po prostu infantylnie. Są też motywy dość srogo pokręcone, których tak naprawdę jeszcze nie rozgryzłem… chwilami technicznie robi się z tego ostry połamaniec, któremu zazwyczaj towarzyszy poschizowana elektronika. Gdyby wyciąć z tego wszystkiego kilka najbardziej interesujących riffów i poskładać w jakąś, dajmy na to dwudziesto-minutową EPkę to byłoby naprawdę przyzwoicie. A tak mamy tu prawie 50-minutowego kloca, który bardziej nudzi (a momentami nawet denerwuje), niż zachęca do ponownego wciśnięcia przycisku „play”. Nie pomagają też zupełnie wokale, które mimo iż dość różnorodne, to jednak całościowo są bardzo… nijakie. Te bardziej agresywne ryki i growle są nawet spoko, ale co chwila są one „zmiękczane” przez próby czystszego śpiewania (w dodatku z dość wyraźnym akcentem).
Małym plusikiem może być tutaj soczyste, bardzo „nowoczesne” brzmienie. O okładce litościwie wspominał już nie będę… ale oni chyba naprawdę dobrej okładki jeszcze nie mieli, przynajmniej ja sobie nie przypominam.
+5/10
27 listopada 2020, napisał: Prezes
POWERMETAL
Trotz einer mittlerweile zehnjährigen Geschichte, ist das russische Quartett DRUKNROLL bisher hierzulande noch nicht wirklich auf der Extreme-Metal-Landkarte aufgetaucht. Dabei veröffentlicht die Truppe aus Saratow dieser Tage mit “Freakingface” bereits ihren sechsten Langspieler, der ähnlich wie der Vorgänger “Unbalanced” primär auf die englische Sprache setzt, nachdem gerade zu Beginn der Bandgeschichte noch Russisch im Vordergrund stand. Ob damit auch Zuhörern außerhalb des eigenen Heimatlandes der Zugang zum wilden Mix aus Melodic Death, Progressive und Thrash Metal ermöglicht werden soll, darüber darf spekuliert werden.
Ausschlaggebend wird dieser Punkt aber wahrscheinlich nicht sein, denn schon der Opener ‘Dead Phone’ offenbart, dass sich viele Zuhörer eher am kratzigen und extrem präsenten Gitarrensound der Scheibe stören dürften, als an für sie nicht direkt verständlichen Texten. Mir jedenfalls rollen sich beim ersten Höreindruck angesichts der penetranten Gitarren die Fußnägel auf. Dabei ist der Song ansonsten eigentlich eine durchaus gelungene Komposition, die mit akustischem Intro erst einmal in Richtung IN FLAMES schielt, nur um über eine thrashige Strophe hinweg zu einem tollen Refrain zu kommen, der mit seinem Mix aus Shouts und Klargesängen recht offensichtlich an FEAR FACTORY erinnert. Insgesamt eine durchaus spannende musikalische Mixtur, die je nach Song mehr in die eine oder andere Richtung ausschlägt. So ist ‘Fermat’s Theorem’ eine waschechte Thrash-Abrissbirne, während der Titeltrack mit Piano und sehr dominanten Keyboards schon fast als Gothic-Rocker durchgehen könnte. Nur die ganz großen Hooklines, die der Opener noch zu bieten hatte, sucht man im weiteren Verlauf des Langeisens leider vergebens, weshalb viele der Kompositionen leider recht unbeeindruckend am Hörer vorbeiziehen. Schlimmer noch, gerade in der Mitte der Spielzeit verlaufen sich die Herren zusehends in Synthesizer-Experimenten, was Tracks wie ‘Destruction Inside’ nicht besonders gut zu Gesicht steht. Schlimmer ist sogar noch der eingeschobene weibliche Gesangsbeitrag in ‘My Fateful Day’, der so überhaupt nicht in den Song passen will und damit in meinen Ohren den Tiefpunkt der Scheibe markiert.
Dank dieser Minuspunkte bleibt “Freakingface” in der Endabrechnung auch deutlich hinter seinen Möglichkeiten. Der eingangs erwähnte Gitarrensound ist dabei nicht einmal der primäre Grund für den Punktabzug, denn an diesen gewöhnt man sich mit fortschreitender Spielzeit doch recht zügig. Viel mehr stören mich insgesamt die oftmals etwas fehlgeleiteten Experimente im hinteren Teil der Scheibe, gerade vor dem Hintergrund, dass dem Vierer nach dem Opener ‘Dead Phone’ einfach keine echte Hookline mehr gelingt. Schade, denn gerade die bereits mehrfach erwähnte Eröffnungsnummer dokumentiert, zu welchen Leistungen die Herren fähig sind, wenn ihnen der Balanceakt zwischen ihren verschiedenen musikalischen Polen gelingt.
6/10
Tobias Dahs
Crossfire Metal Webzine
Manchmal machen Umbenennungen von Bands schon Sinn. Bei dem Namen Druknroll muss ich an „Drunken Rock ´n´ Roll“ denken, und tatsächlich haben die Russen 2006 als lupenreine Melodic Heavy Metal- / Hard Rock-Band angefangen. Davon ist heute – auf ihrem nunmehr sechsten Album „Freakingface“ – kaum noch etwas zu erkennen. Sie spielen mittlerweile modernen Melodic Death- /Thrash- /Groove Metal, der mit der damaligen musikalischen Ausrichtung rein gar nichts mehr zu tun hat. Telefongeräusche läuten das Album ein, bevor es modern und groovig zur Sache geht. Die Musik ist gut gespielt, aber auch sehr sperrig. Einen Spielfluss, der runter geht wie Öl, gibt es hier leider nicht. Sehr vertrackt verlaufen sich Druknroll in wirren Songstrukturen und machen „Freakingface“ zu einer anstrengenden Angelegenheit. Manchmal klingen sie wie Soulfly, manchmal wie Meshuggah, manchmal wie Strapping Young Lad. Zwischendurch gibt es immer mal wieder Hard Rock-ähnliche Refrains, die überhaupt nicht zu den wirren Sounds passen wollen. Zudem ist die fette Produktion mit dem hörbar getriggerten Schlagzeug auf Dauer auch echt nervig. Wer auf modernes, technisches Zeug steht, darf gerne mal ein Ohr riskieren. Die alten Fans der ersten Stunde dürften Druknroll hiermit aber endgültig vergrault haben.
3/10
Daniel Müller
ROCKHARD #01/2021
Das sechste Album der russischen Kapelle DRUKNROLL enthält wie sein Vorgänger Songs mit englischsprachigen Texten.
Allerdings ist der Symphonic- und Göteborg-Einschlag nicht mehr so stark, wohingegen die Band das rüpelhafte Element ihres angeproggten Modern Thrash hervorge- hoben hat. Zweifelsohne interessant sind einerseits die experimentellen Telefontöne
in ´Dead Phone´, der miese Klang des programmierten Schlagzeugs zieht das
Hörerlebnis andererseits erheblich herunter. Wer dennoch hellhörig geworden ist, erhält
„Freakingface“ über den Onlineshop des hie- sigen Vertriebs: www.metalmailorder.com
6/10
STEFAN GLAS
РОККОР#8/2020
We continue to support domestic producers, introducing domestic metal projects. Today, our choice fell on a new album from a band from Saratov, formed in 2006. The musicians presented their debut release four years later, in 2010. It is worth paying tribute to their painstaking efforts, they were not in vain, since the band began to be talked about far beyond the borders of their native Russia. It is amazing how organic they can be, deftly combining several musical genres at once. There are elements of melodic progressive metal, classic death, hard-hitting thrash in their arrangements, but the team gives special preference to modern metal. The presented record is the sixth numbered album of the team, which can boast excellent technicality, references to metal of the 90s, as well as a variety of styles. The group easily switches from industrial to thrash, so every fan of “heavier” will be able to find something for themselves among the ten diverse compositions of the record. The total listening time of all CD materials will be forty-eight minutes. The release is listened to in one breath thanks to the “nuclear” musical mix. For example, what are the spectacular solos in the compositions “Dead phone”, “Муfateful day” and “Му doomed love” worth. There is no trace left of the guys’ former melody (judging by their previous works), but there is more than enough expression and emotion. You can see for yourself by listening to “А black hole” and “Destruction inside”. These tracks are able to intrigue with stylistic diversity and originality (in the best sense of the word). Particular attention should be paid to the ballad called “Forever young”. This song is a pleasant find among the majority of rhythmic melodies. The album will appeal to all those who love unconventional motives and dynamic melodies. There is more than enough of this here. Perhaps they are one of the few on the Russian scene who “capture” the audience with a genre mix and straightforward lyrics.
5/5
Anastasia Ignatova
NOIZZ
Tras el adelanto de los EPs “Doomed Love” (2019) y “Dead Phone” (2020) la banda rusa de Melodic Progressive Thrash/Death Metal DRUKNROLL ha puesto en la calle su sexto álbum de estudio bajo el título de “Freakingface”, en el que se incluyen estos anteriores singles junto a ocho cortes más que mantienen la trayectoria que pudimos escuchar en su quinto disco “Unbanlanced” de 2018. Un nuevo disco que como sus predecesores viene firmado por el sello ucraniano Metal Scrap Records y que cuenta con una original presentación gráfica en la que destaca la portada, ilustrada de tal forma que no deja lugar a dudas del particular carácter y singular personalidad de la propuesta del grupo, algo que se refleja directamente en su música.
DRUKNROLL son una de esas bandas que o las amas o las odias, es difícil que haya un término medio ya que en sus composiciones se dejan llevar por sus impulsos e influencias para dar forma a un Metal realmente particular. Puedes hacerte una idea de la variedad de la propuesta si te digo que se le pueden poner etiquetas tan dispares como las de Symphonic, Modern, Progressive, Alternative, Thrash, Melodeath…Un cóctel sonoro que quienes ya habíamos escuchado algunos de sus trabajos previos, especialmente su anterior “Unbalanced”, ya conocíamos, y que paradójicamente hace que la banda resulte totalmente reconocible, lejos de quedar sepultada por semejante lista de influencias. Por eso “Freakingface” es un álbum variado y a la vez coherente de principio a fin; es también uno de esos discos impredecibles que cuentan con cierta dosis de experimentación creativa en la que las melodías y la agresividad se entrelazan con total naturalidad.
Entre los temas que componen “Freakingface” encontramos desde la crítica a la actual sociedad, como ocurre con “Dead Phone”, hasta el guiño a las matemáticas con “Fermat’s Theorem”, pasado por la desesperación personal de “Destruction Inside”, un poco de todo y siempre pasado por el particular filtro de DRUKNROLL. En lo musical pueden venirte a la cabeza bandas que van desde SOILWORK y DARK TRANQUILLITY hasta VOIVOD, pasando por FEAR FACTORY, aunque no son más que leves pinceladas que ayudan a comprender lo que hacen estos tipos. Una propuesta contemporánea y contundente, diferente y atrevida, con personalidad dentro del Metal.
8,5/10
NOIZZ
Rocka Rolla Web Zine
Excelente sonido con acordes densos, pesados y una batería dura y con escalas graves. Desde el inicio suenan demoledoramente potentes con riffs breves y discretos de momentos.
Algo que llama la atención es la segunda canción con el nombre de un súper teorema famoso de un gran matemático en Teoría de Números! Creo que es un detalle importante, tiene unos solos y riffs con un acento muy fuerte en esas cuerdas brutales. Los acordes del bajo son densos y agresivos, con guitarras que se acoplan perfectamente más esa batería y pedal con total brutalidad.
Las notas y escalas en piano con un ritmo y compás en notas muy distorsionadas con tempos algo bruscos que llegamos a escuchar en el djent como en la canción “Freakingface”, una combinación con voz femenina excelente, voces limpias de María y Horror con escalas graves y densas, velocidad y potencia con una fuerte explosividad como en “Destruction Inside”.
Un álbum lleno de carga melódica, tempos, compases bruscos muy bien acoplados, acordes gruesos y potentes, una línea de bajo que reitero poderosa que con la batería le da una potencia descomunal, una mezcla de melodic death-djent groove metal súper asesino!
Este álbum es una joya sin duda con variables mezcla de sonidos, acústicos con una atmósfera sinfónica en muchas de las canciones y voces tanto medias guturales y limpias con rangos semejantes a las escalas que se escuchan, para los amantes de este género les va a demoler los oídos sin problema! Excelente álbum.
Javier Salaverryen
ASTARTA
This scary Saratov team was in a great fever in terms of style, the tricks they used, the language of performance of the tracks and other accompanying ingredients, but two years ago on their album “Unbalanced” they seemed to have found themselves and brought out that very ideal scheme that they would like to adhere to. Noisy cacophony of late thrash, painful English-language lyrics, hints at the pioneers of math metal in the spirit of Meshuggah, detached solos in the tradition of Coroner and many, many surprises, unpredictability, harsh shredding riffs and paradoxical electronics – two years ago they confidently brought all these components to the tablets of their musical and stylistic faith and are now actively and meticulously cultivating the chosen field. Modern DRUKNROLL have a very voluminous and cosmic sound, the atmosphere they create is clearly psychedelic, and electronics, samples and cascades of schizophrenic melodies plunge the listener into a world of darkness, vacuum and manic-depressive psychosis. They are truly manic and do not even think to hide it, and the structures of their compositions, the unpredictability of their development and the gloomy seriousness with which they do their job, obviously give them away as intellectuals, lovers of twisted plots and unpredictable people. “The stoner is so high that you can hang an axe on him” – they say in remote Russian villages about the music of DRUKNROLL, and this is really true, which, by the way, you will certainly be convinced of by the two videos launched in support of “Freakingface”. Journalists put different tags next to their name and often compare them with completely different and even mutually exclusive teams, I was guilty of the same thing at one time, and now I have found a more adequate and simple solution. It is not for nothing that the vocalist of DRUKNROLL calls himself Horror – this word is the best and most complete way to describe what the team performs on their albums and with what it is worth consuming their tracks and videos. Musical horror for those who have long been accustomed to living in a world of horror or only dream of getting into it – on the discs of this group there is so much fear, blackness, thick painful atmosphere and harsh attacking thrash groove that no one will definitely feel like it, and their persistence and sophistication make this audio darkness deeper and more intense, inadvertently evoking associations with the mythical labyrinth of the Minotaur. Fears, phobias, panic attacks, paranoid suspicions, obsessions – all these are different facets, shades and possible variants of the same phenomenon, which is known to all of us as horror, and DRUKNROLL are trying their best to thicken the colors as much as possible and scare their listeners in earnest, in which their avant-garde and amorphous nature helps them a lot. In the laser tracks of “Freakingface” everything exists and develops as if according to some other, inhuman laws, and for a person who does not have mental pathologies and is not prone to neuroses/psychoses, it may seem very scary and frightening. The band’s latest work is music for those who lack chaos and adrenaline in their lives, and the most sophisticated horrors and thrillers have long ceased to bring the desired effect and only irritate and bore. In the first seconds of my first, visual acquaintance with “Freakingdace”, somewhere in the depths of my subconscious, like lightning, a guess-parallel flashed: Voivod. The spelling of the title of the current longplay of the Saratov dark-makers is very similar to the classics of these Canadian thrashers, and the art by Mosa Eye, which became its cover, seems to deliberately hint at its spiritual and intellectual kinship with these sci-fi pioneers. And what about the music? And the music of today’s DRUKNROLL also sometimes does not shy away from references to Voivod of the 90s and especially to their darkest and most paradoxical “Phobos”, where the Canadians brought so much horror and gloom that it seems they themselves were shocked by their volumes and concentrations. What we have before us is not just an album, but a fundamental canvas of sounds, images, words of despair and pure chaos – a real audio thriller.
Alexey “Astarte Eel” Irineev
http://astartaview.ru/recenziya-na-albom-gruppy-druknroll-freakingface/
Heavy Metal Pages
„Freakingface“ to już szósty album tego rosyjskiego zespołu. Poprzednie były, delikatnie mówiąc, takie sobie – regularne wydawnie kolejnych płyt co 18-24 miesiące nie zawsze ma najwidoczniej sens – jednak tym razem Druknroll zaskoczyli mnie pozytywnie. W porównaniu z „Unbalanced“, a już szczególnie z „In The Game“ z roku 2016, mamy tu bowiem znaczny progres. Co ciekawe Druknroll nie poczynili jakichś znaczących zmian muzycznych czy stylistycznych – wciąż grają death w surowym wydaniu, wzbogacony elementami nowoczesnego groove metalu, gotyku i licho wie czego jeszcze, ale wypadający obecnie o wiele ciekawiej. Minus jest tylko jeden, ale za to ogromny, bo przeraźliwie płaska i pozbawiona mocy automatyczna perkusja pasuje do surowego brzmienia tego materiału tak, jak któraś z naszych piłkarskich drużyn do finału Ligi Mistrzów. Mamy tu wręcz dwa światy: surowiznę gitar i basu, a obok jakieś syntetyczne postukiwanie, tak jakby kilkuletnie dziecko próbowało bawić się w perkusistę. Jeśli jednak przymkniemy na ten mankament oko, okaże się, że Druknroll łoją całkiem solidnie i pomysłowo: wściekle i intensywnie („Dead Phone“), wzbogacają death metal partiami forepianu („Freakingface“, „My Doomed Love“) i syntezatorów („Destruction Inside“ z klawiszową solówką, „I’m A Parasite“). Do tego różnicują materiał, zaczynając od tych prostszych utworów, kończąc zaś bardziej zróżnicowanymi – finałowy, trwający blisko siedem minut „A Black Hole“ to jak na standardy tego zespołu coś naprawdę dużego, numer w formie wręcz progresywny. Ponownie pojawia się też gościnna wokalistka Maria: w kilku utworach jako chórzystka, ale w „My Fateful Day“ już w pierwszoplanowej roli, w duecie z ryczącym niczym opętany Horrorem. Wychodzi więc na to, że gdyby wcześniej Druknroll poszli po rozum do głowy i zamiast sześciu płyt wydali trzy, to nie znęcałbym się tak nad nimi we wcześniejszych recenzjach. Liczę jednak, że do nagrania kolejnego albumu wynajmą perkusistę z prawdziwego zdarzenia, bo mogą na tym tylko zyskać.
(3,5/6)
Wojciech Chamryk
http://www.hmp-mag.pl/index.php/plyty/178-plyty-2020/5044-druknroll-freakingface
Soulgrinder Zine #8
This Russian band was formed in 2QQ6 and this is their sixth album, For a band that has released that much material, little) is known outside their territory, | would say that it is due that their early material was released basically in their native lanaua.l g$ Now, this album has very good production values, with a modern sound yet not as plastic as some bands, which is always something good, One can listen to this band and there is definitely a vibe that they did not start in the same musical style they —« play nowadays, Right now the band can be labeled as some sort of death I thrash metal with some industrial Influences ancL Ijbmore^han a few death core touches, The musicianship is very precise, Vocals range from growled quasi death metal vocals,Tsome more tough man sounding core ones to clean ones, yet most of the time maintaining the aggression level, Bands like; toterTera IN FLAMES, FEAR FACTORY and also newer SEPULTURA come to mind while listening to this band,'[The N style itself is not exactly my kind of thing, so be aware that fans of more groove orientated extreme metal bands will surely** like it,’ but those more into more straight forward metal and that is far away from any death core sound, beware,
Rockhard.sk
DRUKNROLL není žádnou neznámou, protože Metal Scrap Records redakci RH pravidelně zásobuje jejich hudebními počiny. O tom, že je tento spolek poměrně plodný, není pochyb. Poslední album „Unbalanced“ vyšlo v roce 2018, poté následovala dvě EP „Doomed Love“ (2019) a „Dead Phone“ (2020) a koncem roku zatím poslední deska „Freakingface“. To, že jsem zmínil obě EP, není náhoda, ony jsou totiž v plném rozsahu zaznamenány i na „Freakingface“. Trochu nechápu smysl, protože to není tak dávno co vyšli samostatně, snižují tak atraktivnost novinky, z deseti skladeb, šest znáte. Možná stačilo vydat další EP se čtyřmi novými kousky, ale to není moje „máčka“. O tom, že se kapela snaží hrát moderní metalovou muziku, která v sobě kříží heavy, thrash, možná i prvky death metalu, není pochyb. Že se jim daří, s každou další nahrávkou posunout kousek výš, taky není pochyb. Líbí se mi nápad s využitím dívčího hlasu „My Fateful Day“ v kombinaci s orchestrem. Je to uvolněnější skladba, ale kvalita a nápad se jí nedají upřít. Asi nejlepší věc z novinek. „Freakingface“ moderně thrashující skladba i přesto, že začíná klavírní předehrou. Má razanci, neotřelé postupy a nápady s různými samplíky a vsuvkami jsou vítaným zpestřením. Další novinkou je „I´m A Parasite“, na mě až moc překombinovaná, koketující s techno thrashem zahaleným v jakési mystické, temné auře, kterou slýcháme u symfo black kapel, některé pasáže připomínají FEAR FACTORY. Úplný závěr obstará „A Black Hole“ s tajemně vesmírným začátkem, impozantními sóly, probublávající basa dostává také dost velký prostor. Zbytek skladby je prosycen všude přítomným idustrial lomozem a kytarovými spletitými space rify, do toho stroze recitovaný text. Že by náznak, jakou cestou se tato parta bude dál ubírat? DRUKNROLL opět nezklamali.
MARTIN BARTÁK
3,3/5
https://rockhard.sk/2021/03/25/druknroll-freakingface/
PEST WEBZINE
It seems Druknroll have found the perfect timing between albums to stay fresh and avctive in the minds of their listeners; they release an album every 2 years, and maybe sprinkle a EP here and there to keep things even more active. This one here is their sixth album, made of 5 tracks from their previous two EPs (except for a track, Doomed Love, all others are featured here, and now I wonder why they have left it out), plus five new tracks for a total of 10 into almost 50 minutes of playing time. Freakingface continues exactly where the previous album, Unbalanced, left us, displaying a professional sounding, inventive and borderless material that could be labelled as melodic, progressive and groovy Thrash Metal. I loved Unbalanced and hoped for the band to stay on course for the next album, too, and I’m glad they did, this new album is as surprising, technical, heavy, and daring as I would have hoped for, but there’s a major problem, I can’t stand the production on it, everything sounds so chaotic and stuffed that I keep finding myself being drown thinking of a particular instrument rather than enjoying the compositions as a whole; the drums are also mixed so upfront they steal all attention from the riffs most of the times, and then the keyboards are so ’90’s stuffed sounding that one struggles to get them. I still consider Druknroll as being on the right course with this new genre they took, and I feel they definitely have the right potential to become major players in this genre, but this album has failed on me because of its production, don’t know if it’s only my impression, so if you have a chance give this band a try, they are really something else!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
R’Lyeh #16
Рога na zespoJ, ktory kiedys zrobil na mnie bardzo dobre wrazenie a ktorego kolejne pozycje budzity coraz bardziej mieszane uczucia. Tym razem jednak DRUKNROLL nagrat ptyt?, ktora klimatem zblizona jest do mojej ulubione pozycji Rosjan, czyli ich drugiego pelnego albumu. Stychad: tu mianowicie pewne elementy znane z SUPURATION, czy „dwojki” AMORPHIS: ciekawe aranzacje wokalne (od czystych, przez zeriskie, po growle), wjazdy klawiszy, zap^tlone i mocno рогфапе riffy, itd. Jest to muzyka mocno progresywna, ktorej z natury nie trawi?, jednak wyjqtki takie jak ten wtasnie zespof, czy ta konkretne ptyta- ktore wchodz^ autentycznie bez przepojki. Jest to po prostu muzyka bogata w caty wachlarz doznari. Cos jakby teatr wrazeii: nadaje si? to idealnie do zilustrowania jakiegos spektaklu, czy cos w tym rodzaju. Dla przyktadu, s*uchaj$c np. „My Fateful Day”- przed oczami mamy konkretne sceny, jakby nasz mozg sam nakr^cat na biezqco teledysk do tej lekkiej i niemal rockowej piosenki. To takie coS, со jest blisko GHOST, ale jakby mniej przebojowe. Так, DRUKNROLL zdecydowanie potrafi komponowac takie kawaiki. Jest tu tez taki rodzynek jak „Destruction Inside”, ktory przypomina mi nasz QUO VADIS- to tak jakby dla przeciwwagi: zesp6l potrafi w agresywny Thrash ;). C6±, bardzo fajny album, cho<i wiem, te nie kaidemu si? on spodoba. Niemniej warto spr6bowa6 chodby tego, jak smakuje ta muza. Piszcie do Metal Scrap!
8/10
DARK CITY №119
Saratov project Druknroll with each new album arouses more and more keen interest among fans of difficult music. The sixth opus called ‘Freakingface’ is no exception. But nevertheless, it is thanks to it that clear trends in the music of the Volga region band are already emerging. First. In the last review, I had the pleasure of quoting a well-known Czech tongue twister “My godfather Peter, do not over-pepper this pig, but if you over-pepper it, my godfather Peter, then you yourself will eat this over-peppered pig.” Because the polystylistics (but at the same time the recklessness) really went off the scale. Now the pig lies on a plate and is evenly seasoned with various spices – a pinch of good crossover thrash is especially pleasing. Progressive has not gone anywhere (which is clearly noticeable, for example, in the backgrounds), as well as melo-death. With all this, we have the clearest and most integral album of Druknroll without unnecessary twists. Secondly, it is pleasant to observe a clear and precise concept. Of course, I may be wrong, but it is here that we observe the concept of “fatigue” from society. Doubts in faith, a rebuff to the “new” philistinism, a midlife crisis. That is why the album drives you into the ground in a good way. Freakingface’ is not an easy album. But it is worth it.
4/5
Menschenmaterial
Metal-revolution
Druknroll is a Russian Melodic Progressive Thrash/Death Metal quartet. They have released their sixth full-length studio album entitled Freakingface via our friends at Metal Scrap Records. Sometimes I just like bands that stick to their guns, doing what they do best, instead of experimenting too much. It’s the case with Freakingface, a new 10-tracker, continues exactly where the previous album, Unbalanced, left. It is no wonder when you have in mind that this sixth album, is made of five tracks from their previous two EPs (except for a track, “Doomed Love”) plus five new tracks. It is almost a 50 minute long ride of magnificent guitar riffs, straight-forward bass, machinegun hellish drums, chaotic keyboards, harsh vocals (with ocassional female vocals of Maria) and a crispy, uncompromised lead-guitars and a face-melting guitar solo. All of this and some more can be heard on this album. Some parts of the album are very melodic as the synth/keyboards add this melodic and smooth touch to the overall atmosphere. Production is quite good, modern, crispy and a professional sounding. The only minor issue I have with Freakingface is the fact that at times it sounds a bit too complex, chaotic and noisy. It feels as these guys wanted to achieve too much at once. On the other hand they know exactly what sound they want to achive and with the release of Freakingface they just reminded the old fans that they’re still major players in this genre. Probably not the most innovative, inventive or original release from Druknroll, but still interesting enough and well worth checking out.
Freakingface can be recommended for the fans of bands like Children Of Bodom, Soilwork, Mercenary, Degradead, Dark Tranquillity, Fear Factory and In Flames! For more info visit http://druknroll.com/
Bato
68/100
https://www.metal-revolution.com/reviews/druknroll-freakingface
Rockhard.de
Das sechste Album der russischen Kapelle DRUKNROLL enthält wie sein Vorgänger Songs mit englischsprachigen Texten. Allerdings ist der Symphonic- und Göteborg-Einschlag nicht mehr so stark, wohingegen die Band das rüpelhafte Element ihres angeproggten Modern Thrash hervorgehoben hat. Zweifelsohne interessant sind einerseits die experimentellen Telefontöne in ´Dead Phone´, der miese Klang des programmierten Schlagzeugs zieht das Hörerlebnis andererseits erheblich herunter. Wer dennoch hellhörig geworden ist, erhält „Freakingface“ über den Onlineshop des hiesigen Vertriebs: www.metalmailorder.com.
STEFAN GLAS
6/10
https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/druknroll-freakingface_535332.html
ON THE ROAD WEBZIN
Druknroll é um quarteto russo que executa um Thrash/Death Metal progressivo melódico. Este trata-se do sexto álbum de estúdio intitulado “Freakingface” lançado através da Metal Scrap Records.
Freakingface tem 50 minutos de música, aqui podemos ouvir riffs de guitarra pesados, embora modernos, baixo mais direto, bateria com várias passagens quebradas, teclados dando um clima, vocais por hora mais rasgados com algumas passagens com vocais femininos. Algumas partes do álbum são mais melódicas, pois os sintetizadores/teclados adicionam esse toque melódico.
A produção é boa, moderna, até demais para o meu gosto. O problema na minha opinião é o fato de que às vezes soa um pouco complexo, caótico e até barulhento demais, músicas mais diretas e menos modernas seriam mais bem vindas.
Provavelmente não é o lançamento mais inovador, inventivo que você ouvirá na sua vida, mas ainda é interessante de conferir se o estilo te agrada, especialmente se você gosta de bandas como o atual In Flames ou Soilwork.
Rating: 7/10