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DRUPARIA The River Above By Alex Yarborough, Orlando Contributor Sunday, December 22, 2024 @ 6:54 PM
And what a fantastic debut album this is! The River Above is a truly inspired performance that will remind listeners of bands like INSOMNIUM and DARK TRANQUILLITY. The band also lists AT THE GATES, DARKEST HOUR, FALLUJAH, SYLOSIS, and SACRAMENTUM as influences. There's so many layers to this aural feast, and I hear something new each time I listen to it. The first thing I noticed is the absolute beast behind the drumkit, Noah Van Dyke, who provides the album with dynamic and powerful percussion. The second thing I noticed is the inspired guitar and bass playing from Josh, Tyler and Kyle. Their work here sounds fresh to these ears. The next thing you notice is how ideal vocalist David Moran is, and how his voice mixes in perfectly with these songs. One detrimental aspect of melodic death metal bands for me personally is the plodding pace of the songs. You will not find this problem with DRUPARIA, because they keep the tempos fast for the most part. That's not to say that there aren't some perfectly placed melancholy parts in this album (there are), but the pedal is kept to the metal for the majority of the time, and for that I'm grateful.
The album begins with "Voiceless Regret", which opens with a blast beat and a buzzsaw guitar riff that fires on all cylinders. This is a killer intro track with an appropriate theme of regret after a life that is ending. The fact that the narrator is unable to speak and express his regret is a beautiful momento mori motif. The relentless nature of "Under The Shade of Sand" adds to the track's appeal and overall power. "Bereavement" keeps things flowing and the tempo fast. There's a killer lead guitar theme throughout this song, and the orchestration and acoustic guitar both add tremendously to the subject of mourning after a death. My favorite songs on the album are ones like this that have orchestral passages mixed in. David Moran's vocals are also powerful yet very haunting here.
The River Above features 11 tracks and clocks in at 53 minutes. This is an album you sit with for a while to digest. Then you hit play again and you experience it all over again. You'll notice new parts each time, because it's quite diverse and filled with a ton of textures. Every song keeps you guessing and wondering... wow, what's next? That's a great thing, and something I don't experience often. Honestly, there are no filler songs on this album. I rank The River Above as a monster debut album, and one of my favorite albums of the year. DRUPARIA are putting Cleveland back on the map and proving that an independent band can create real, moving art. One of the most impressive aspects of this album for me is Dan Paddy's production and mix -- it's so damn perfect! His work truly accents the craftsmanship of this band, you can hear every instrument clearly. The playing by each band member is exquisite, especially the guitar work on this album which is definitely underrated, and surprised me. It's very good! The album cover artwork by Mark Erskine, is top notch as well. If you are a fan of modern melodic death metal, you should check this release out and support the band. The River Above can be downloaded digitally or purchased on CD at this link: druparia.bandcamp.com.
5.0 Out Of 5.0
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