Ah, Drudkh. Atmospheric black metal aficionados and emissaries of ethereal, haunting and autumnal music for well over two decades now. They have edged closer to their roots with Shadow Play, a move that began with All Belong to the Night, which succeeded They Often See Dreams About the Spring, a slightly divisive album. Compared to All Belong to the Night, Shadow Play sports a much crisper production, with enough space for the instrumentation to bloom in all its mesmerizing bleakness, helmed by the fervently desperate vocals of Thurios. The album flows incredibly well despite a seven-minute intro to set the eerie stage, and contains just about everything we've come to expect from Drudkh; long songs with spellbinding, shapeshifting passages and bursts of energetic fury and aggression. One song is a bit more to the point that I particularly enjoy. "Fallen Blossom" provides a welcome, straightforward blast-beat-heavy reprieve following the two monsters that are "April" and "The Exile." While "The Eve" might be the odd one out, the most complex and rewarding listen is probably album closer "The Thirst." That song brings everything together on Shadow Play and reminds me quite a bit of the almost celestial feeling I get when listening to "Winds of the Night Forests" off of Autumn Aurora.

It is impossible to review this album and not spare a comment on the tragic situation in Ukraine and the fact that Drudkh's former drummer was killed in action on the frontlines in 2024. Drudkh have been vocal about their support for the Ukrainian troops in this conflict, and there are feelings of sorrow and despair buried deep within the foundations of this album that surfaces regularly throughout, which makes Shadow Play take on a whole different meaning. While I cannot say for certain that this is something the band wishes to convey, Drudkh's dedication to the cause and love for their country makes it rather difficult to view this album in isolation from its dreadful surroundings of death and war. Regardless of your stance on that, this is a solid fucking release, so go get it.