After five years together Drungi put out their first physical release in 2024, the eight-song doom-stravaganza Hamfarir Hugans. And I hope we don’t have to wait five more years for the next album, because this thing brings it.
Driving, weighty riffs combine with active, rich basslines and deft drumming to propel songs forward, at times methodically, at others grandiosely. The vocal duties are split between Sjafnar Björgvinsson and Sandra Maria, with different styles and approaches weaving in and out of songs – low growls and banshee screeches are offset by melodic passages. All of it comes together into eight weighty and well-constructed tracks. Too often metal tracks fracture into two or more distinct sections that feel unrelated to one another, but that’s not the case with Drungi – you can hear the emphasis on composition and flow, each track a cohesive whole. Don’t believe me? Give “Skriða” a listen. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
You can give Hamfarir Hugans a digital spin, as well as pick up a copy on vinyl or CD, on the Drungi Bandcamp page HERE.