Presented in an A5 digipak, hand-numbered and strictly limited to 500 copies.
This release compiles 15 tracks from Graveland’s early demo era, originally recorded in November 1992 and issued shortly after the first official demo. Raw, furious, and steeped in primal atmosphere, it marks the true genesis of a band that would soon become one of the most uncompromising forces in black metal. Overflowing with hatred, passion, and a deep disdain for the modern world, these recordings helped lay the foundation for the Polish black metal underground. While Thousand Swords is often hailed as a defining statement, this release offers a rare glimpse into Graveland’s darkest and most formative days.
With Drunemeton, Graveland cemented the early stages of a legacy that would become essential to the Polish black metal movement. This 1994 EP, raw and primal, serves as a gateway into Rob Darken’s evolving vision—where barbaric aggression, pagan atmosphere, and triumphant melody begin to merge with increasingly epic ambition.
From the opening notes, Drunemeton captures a mist-shrouded aura, evoking the spirit of forgotten forests and ancestral battlefields. The guitar tone is cold and jagged, yet layered with an eerie melodic undercurrent that hints at the epic style Graveland would later pursue more fully. The riffs are repetitive in the best way—hypnotic and ritualistic—driving the listener deep into a trance-like state.
Darken's vocals are harsh, distant, and echo like war cries across ancient hills. The drum programming, though primitive by modern standards, adds to the inhuman and otherworldly feel of the recording. It’s lo-fi and unapologetic, yet somehow perfectly suited to the material—never distracting, only enhancing the overall experience.
Lyrically and thematically, Drunemeton embraces a mythic vision of Slavic paganism and warlike pride. Even in these early years, Graveland was more than just another black metal act—they were crafting their own identity steeped in heritage, mysticism, and defiance.
While later albums would showcase more advanced musicianship and grander compositions, Drunemeton remains a key moment in Graveland’s journey—a raw, atmospheric slab of pagan black metal that foreshadowed the epic scope to come. For fans of early 90s black metal or those seeking a deeper dive into Graveland’s beginnings, this EP is essential listening.
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