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DRUPARIA
The River Above
2024 Independent Release

DRUPARIA is a new melodic death band from the Cleveland, Ohio area that is about to release their debut CD, The River Above, on December 27th. Formed out of the ashes of several local acts, DRUPARIA has gained a life of its own by bringing together David Moran (vocals), Josh Gatka (guitar), Tyler Clark (guitar), Kyle Lash Taylor (bass, clean backing vocals), and Noah Van Dyke (drums) to create some truly inventive sonic landscapes. The name "Druparia" is a pseudo-synonym for the blackthorn plant that's used in some areas of occultism and witchcraft, which follows closely to the band's lyrical and visual themes of nature and mysticism. After releasing an early demo called Alfheim in 2020, the band are ready to release their debut full-length album.

And what a fantastic debut album this is! The River Above is a truly inspired performance that will remind listeners of bands like INSOMNIUM and DARK TRANQUILLITY. The band also lists AT THE GATES, DARKEST HOUR, FALLUJAH, SYLOSIS, and SACRAMENTUM as influences. There's so many layers to this aural feast, and I hear something new each time I listen to it. The first thing I noticed is the absolute beast behind the drumkit, Noah Van Dyke, who provides the album with dynamic and powerful percussion. The second thing I noticed is the inspired guitar and bass playing from Josh, Tyler and Kyle. Their work here sounds fresh to these ears. The next thing you notice is how ideal vocalist David Moran is, and how his voice mixes in perfectly with these songs. One detrimental aspect of melodic death metal bands for me personally is the plodding pace of the songs. You will not find this problem with DRUPARIA, because they keep the tempos fast for the most part. That's not to say that there aren't some perfectly placed melancholy parts in this album (there are), but the pedal is kept to the metal for the majority of the time, and for that I'm grateful.

The album begins with "Voiceless Regret", which opens with a blast beat and a buzzsaw guitar riff that fires on all cylinders. This is a killer intro track with an appropriate theme of regret after a life that is ending. The fact that the narrator is unable to speak and express his regret is a beautiful momento mori motif. The relentless nature of "Under The Shade of Sand" adds to the track's appeal and overall power. "Bereavement" keeps things flowing and the tempo fast. There's a killer lead guitar theme throughout this song, and the orchestration and acoustic guitar both add tremendously to the subject of mourning after a death. My favorite songs on the album are ones like this that have orchestral passages mixed in. David Moran's vocals are also powerful yet very haunting here. "Kintsugi" is one of my favorite tracks on the album. This song is about gaining back one's sanity and forgiving yourself for past trauma, after being broken. Appropriate, considering the song's title. It begins with a strained guitar riff that builds up to a faster tempo, but eventually it pummels the listener with tempo changes and amazing harmony guitar chords. "In Repose, Descend" is a masterpiece from the first note to the last. Its theme of sleep and dream, mixed with Dan Paddy's piano and Christopher Brown's cello outro, makes this one an epic track. Similar cello sounds open the excellent "Sever The Roots" a song about thinking for yourself and breaking ties to the past. Check out the video for this song on KNAC.COM HERE. Next up is the title track, "The River Above". This song speaks about sleeping and dreaming, and is a real gem in the center of the album. "Of Firmament...And The Renewal" is a song about escaping mortality and features a lengthy intro, and then takes the listener on a journey through brutal death metal for a while before rebuilding again. "Bled For Comfort" describes the pain life can bring sometimes and features one of my favorite lyrics: "The world is just a pissing contest for whose pain is the greatest". "When Cranes Return" is a beautiful track, describing the longing to be free of slumber and darkness, which is backed perfectly by the harmony guitars and layers of sonic landscape. This is probably my favorite track of the second half of the album. The River Above closes with a poignant and 'metaled' cover of indie folk duo THE CIVIL WARS instrumental "The Violet Hour". The twist the band puts on this song makes it even more epic.

The River Above features 11 tracks and clocks in at 53 minutes. This is an album you sit with for a while to digest. Then you hit play again and you experience it all over again. You'll notice new parts each time, because it's quite diverse and filled with a ton of textures. Every song keeps you guessing and wondering... wow, what's next? That's a great thing, and something I don't experience often. Honestly, there are no filler songs on this album. I rank The River Above as a monster debut album, and one of my favorite albums of the year. DRUPARIA are putting Cleveland back on the map and proving that an independent band can create real, moving art. One of the most impressive aspects of this album for me is Dan Paddy's production and mix -- it's so damn perfect! His work truly accents the craftsmanship of this band, you can hear every instrument clearly. The playing by each band member is exquisite, especially the guitar work on this album which is definitely underrated, and surprised me. It's very good! The album cover artwork by Mark Erskine, is top notch as well. If you are a fan of modern melodic death metal, you should check this release out and support the band. The River Above can be downloaded digitally or purchased on CD at this link: druparia.bandcamp.com.

5.0 Out Of 5.0