As soon as the listener presses that play button, the opening piece, Интро (Intro), greets the listener with the sound of a thunderstorm and howling wolves—setting the grim tone for what follows.
Following suit with the second piece, Оскрнавитељ (Oskrnavitelj), and the remaining seven pieces. Oskrnavitelj offers a dark and extreme fruit of art of eight songs, spread across under forty minutes. Pradavni embodies a raw and traditional/old-school aesthetic, deeply intertwined with Serbian heritage. Simultaneously, the band’s lyrics, written in Serbian, explore themes of misanthropy, darkness, blasphemy, death, evil, nature, and, once more, ancestral heritage.
As the listener continues their journey, they will uncover something distinctive about Oskrnavitelj. Their album Pradavni, meaning “Ancient,” might not showcase original components, but it delivers a raw sound, captivating production, and deep themes. It offers the listener an authenticity that remains true to the traditional black metal spirit. Furthermore, the sound, arrangement, and production intentionally avoid modern refinement, choosing instead a more primal and atmospheric essence, evoking the feeling of being captured in the cold and dark wilderness of the unknown…
Oskrnavitelj‘s album, Pradavni is a fruit of art, encompassing its instrumentation, composition, arrangement, recording, and devilmanship. Pradavni immerses listeners in guitar sounds that wrap around their ears with dark, unpolished, tremolo-picked riffs, complemented by haunting, emotional melodies. Although the bass riffs are partially sparse, they provide a crucial foundation that supports the band’s raw sonic identity. While the riffs maintain a steady style throughout, certain tracks like Prognanik and Kad Je Mesec Pun introduce variations, featuring mid-tempo drumming and narrative-style vocals.
Simultaneously, the drums unleash a torrent of blast beats and double bass pedal action, driving the music’s fierce tempo forward. At times, the unyielding drumming, echoing the style of Darkthrone, showcases a vibrant quality, amplifying the diverse tempos and intensities of the guitar work. The vocals, fronted by Ivana “Vrika” Savić, deliver a dark and gritty sound, marked by a high-pitched, hissing tone that blends seamlessly into the atmospheric fabric of the music.
Pradavni embodies a dark essence and traditional black metal. Nevertheless, one of the album’s key strengths is its atmosphere, yet it falls short in terms of memorability. I genuinely wish the band had infused some aspects of Serbian heritage to enhance the album’s depth and intensity. However, I find myself questioning the intended delivery of the vocals. I would prefer them to be a touch angrier or possess a bit more edge.
Overall, for fans of old-school Black Metal.
As the album draws to a close, with the final track, Хладно руно планина (Hladno runo planina). We want to thank both Fetzner Death Records and The Metallist PR for letting us review Oskrnavitelj and their album Pradavni. We will wrap it up by discussing the final three sins and concluding the review.
