'N CRUGU BRADULUI

'N Crugu Bradului seems to be the album where Negura Bunget really set off on creating their metal in a more progressive vein. Although this album doesn't contain as many eccentric or avant-garde elements as OM, this is still a sufficiently melodic progressive black metal album.

The four long compositions, each representing a season (starting with Spring), ebb and flow from softer ambient passages to all-out metal aggression, but always maintain a level of energy expected from black metal, progressive or otherwise. Much like the more interesting progressive black metal bands from various parts of Europe, the songs on 'N Crugu Bradului do not contain much, if any, repetition of verses and there don't seem to be any immediately recognizable choruses, but this creates an engaging listening experience that only this type of composition style could offer. This album also marks an increase in Romanian folk influence that plays a big part in some of the heavy melodies and also with the use of traditional folk instruments in the quieter passages.

Though engaging, none of the four tracks contain any sincerity, which can either be because the band was uninspired or because the production is rather muddy and incomprehensible (I understand this to be one of the hallmarks of true black metal). Even though there is a large variety of riffs that move this mid-paced progressive black metal excursion along, it often seems very randomly put together -- the time signature changes and loud/soft dynamic changes occur suddenly and stick out like a sore thumb.

The musicianship is better than what is usually expected from black metal, but isn't as commendable as the band's more popular progressive black metal contemporaries such as Deathspell Omega or Blut Aus Nord, but Negura Bunget have their own style and are not easily comparable to the aforementioned groups in any other terms than being at least slightly avant-garde. Because they are a unique band, I'd say they warrant at least one listen from any fan of extreme progressive metal. But because the follow up to this album, OM is widely considered Negura Bunget's magnus opus and it contains many more of both avant-garde and Romanian folk influences in addition to better production and better songwriting, that album may be a better place to start. Otherwise, this is a decent and engaging listen, even if slightly bland at times.

According to the press release Negurã Bunget are the premier Black Metal band from Transylvania, so when the label states that their musical style is 'Primitive Transylvanian Metal' it can be argued that they don't really sound like anyone else. Negurã Bunget started life as a duo back in 1995 but have settled as a trio, with extra musicians added for live work. This is their third full-length album, but the first since signing to Code 666. It is divided into four, with the four songs representing the seasons and is presented through the eyes and mind of a shepherd, I will have to take the label's word at this as none of this album is in English, and so the vocals become another instrument.

Having read on the web about this band, they have much more of an ideological outlook than many of their contemporaries (i.e. they have one, which they publish). This comes across in the music which is inherently very complex and multi-layered, challenging the listener to make sense of what is going on. It isn't an album that can be played as background music but must be listened to intently to get the most out of it. It also helps to play it at a very loud volume indeed. While much of it is dramatic riffing in best Black Metal style there are also moments when the music is soft and gentle.

In some ways Code 666 compare them to Rakoth (of whom I am a huge fan), and to that end have given this release some very impressive packaging (according to the press release, I've not seen it). Each CD comes in a handmade box measuring 22 x 17 cm and also contains a leaf from the tree that saw the birth and composition of their album. This is not music for the fainthearted but is worth seeking out if you want something out of the ordinary.

Originally appeared in Feedback #72, Feb 03

Romania isn't really a European country most people talk about when it comes to music. From what I have seen, most Romanian music are operas, folk songs, and church songs. Not to say they don't know how to do other genres, I mean for God's sake I am reviewing a black metal record from the country. It is apparent, though, that Romania is more well known for other stuff, which I wouldn't say is bad. With that said, it is pretty interesting how one of the most well known groups from Romania ends up being a black metal band.

Negura Bunget was a black metal group from the 90s, but disbanded in 2017. Like groups of Agalloch and pre- electronic era Ulver, they were coined more in the atmospheric black metal territory. However, after their second album, Maiastru sfetnic, they would transport their ideas into more progressive territories, soon becoming a full on prog black metal syndicate. As a fan of more proggy bm music, this group certainly intrigued me. They've treated me quite well so far, with none of their albums being duds in my book. However, one album takes the cake as my current favorite from them, and that is funnily enough where they actually started incorporating more prog sounds into their music, with 'n crugu bradului.

While OM is arguably the better record, I find 'n crugu bradului to just be way stronger. It is four extremely well put together tracks, each one representing a specific season to work with. In a way it is metal's equivalent to Harmonium's Les cinq saisons, though without the whole fifth season idea.

I find each of the tracks represent their designated season extremely well, which I think is the best part of this whole album. I (aka spring) is the perfect opener for this album, feeling both chaotic yet triumphant in its abilities as a song, almost like the moods one may get when a new year begins, as the snow starts to melt, and the sun starts to get hotter. This is as such for the other tracks too. II (aka summer) feels almost as if the band is playing while on fire, frantically strumming and screaming in a blistering sunny heat. III (aka fall) takes a bit more of its time, with things slowly dying down throughout as it gets more folk oriented, though not without the music picking itself back up here and there. Lastly, IIII (aka winter), is a lot more ambient, hibernating in a way before the coming Spring, though not without the snowstorms in the middle. Despite the music being quite rough around the edges (as such with a lot of black metal releases), they are able to capture the moods and feelings amazingly well within each of the four tracks, with nothing in the way of dismantling their greatness.

Speaking of which, I think the rawness enhances the appeal this record has. It's certainly not as lo-fi as a lot of black metal records can get, but the almost dirtiness this record shows off gives it a very pronounced attitude that I cannot get enough of. While their albums after this one have better quality control, they feel a little lacking to the sheer force this album proposes in its sounds. The intro riffs on I are a good example of such. They are wobbly, disjointed, and maddening, but they have a spunk that screams "we are here and now, deal with it!"

If you cannot tell, I love this album and view it as a rightfully deserved masterpiece, though I think most of that stems from III. As a fall fanatic, III is an absolutely amazing prog metal track for the season! It's an epic, which I obviously have a bias towards, it has an odd coziness within some of the quieter moments, and the band are just playing at their full power on it. I can tell Negura Bunget were having a blast in the studio while recording this, and it makes me have the goofiest smile on my face. Really, if you may have doubts on if you want to hear this band's music, pop on III and you won't regret it.

This record truly is an all time high for the black metal genre in the 2000s, with each of the four tracks being all amazing, with no real downsides insight. I wouldn't say it is the best record that 2002 has to offer, but 'n crugu bradului is still quite the package in the long run. A definitive recommendation!

Best track: III

Worst tracks: N/A