Unter dem Banner der Nordwinde

This band from the far north of Germany is offering their kind of Pagan Metal, which I think is rather impressive for a debut-CD. Impressive is as well that this band consists of eight musicians (including two vocalists).

They offer rather fast music on a good technical-level, which I cannot compare to any band at once, nevertheless their attempt is rather nordic, which I think is their aim as well. The complete music is based on a keyboard-ground, while the guitarists are responsible for the melodies. The vocalists try to be very varied, high-pitched screams followed by clear vocals, the complete spectrum that one might expect. I only do not like their attempt of creating folkish music in the fifth song 'Framentanz' which is too deep within the ordinary clichees. But this is something that is obviously possible to be improved. Lyricwise the band is quite close to the poetry of the 'Edda', partly having taken it from the book itself.

Drautran is definitely one of those bands one should have an eye on, as I think one can expect more from them. I myself would really like to know how serious they take the imagery they're covered with. Within the Pagan scene, this is one of the better newcomers ...

(Originally published in The Purgatory Of Grief (RIP))