Druparia - The River Above

Druparia is a melodic death metal band from Ohio who formed in 2018.  Their latest album, “The River Above,” is their full-length debut; they have also released a demo.

“The River Above,” is a really good album—so good that it’s hard to believe this is their debut album.  The guys really know how to craft melodic death metal.  What I like so much about it is that it sounds modern, especially in terms of its production, but it has that old-school feel to it.  

Its tempo is wonderfully balanced as well.  Each of the songs is fast-paced and full of energy but they aren’t too fast and don’t sound rushed.  They rock balls out but still take the time to let their melodies and harmonies stand tall.   There is a lot of charm to this album, in how the various parts are weaved together.  The clean instrumentation transitions (and blends) seamlessly with the death metal parts, all the way the atmosphere is catchy, brought to life by the engaging songwriting.

The album’s first song, “Voiceless Regret,” is one hell of an opener.  The bass dances in between the melodic riffs while the drums are surprisingly catchy, creating a rhythm for the vocals to glide over.  The band’s synergy is on full display here–these guys are very comfortable with each other and they all know exactly what they want to do and what needs to be done to fulfill the journey. 

The chorus is massive–both in the vocals and the guitar parts.  Around the 3:09, the vocalist lets loose a low growl as the song slides into a passage that takes me back to how I felt when I first discovered this genre.  Magical!

“Bereavement,” begins as a burner with rapid fire riffs and tight drumming leading the way.  The distortion increases in thickness as the band rumbles on through. The guitar solo is killer and it’s impressive how the band plays around it even while the two forces begin to meet, pushing the song into a folk-like passage of clean guitars.  

“In Repose, Descend,” also features clean guitars but this time they lead the way, opening the gates for the heavier parts to enter. This is one of the more intense songs on the album, a never-ending romp that throws caution to the wind…at least until around the 3:11 mark, where the band lays down a blanket of atmospheric textures, clean keys, and an ethereal atmosphere. It’s mesmerizing in the way it builds back up to the heavier parts even while holding on to its regal sense of melody.

The title track is one of the best songs on the album.  Much like its title might suggest, this is a soaring song that flows well.  The fast parts are tight and zeroed in but the band always leaves room for things to change as evident by the mid-section–a quick play with clean guitars that transitions to blistering drums and screams.  The final minute and a half is really enjoyable, what with the low growls and balanced melodic riffs. 

The final original song (the last track is a cover) is “When Cranes Return,” reminds me a lot of Darkest Hour and that’s a compliment.  This is a great ending song because it’s energetic all the way through, and some of the heaviest parts of the album are on it, especially the drums.  The final half of the song is a layered, texture passage that is a shrinking moment. 

Druparia’s “The River Above,” is a stunning debut album that captures the magic of melodic death.  If you feel you have outgrown the genre or think there hasn't been a lot of solid releases from it in awhile, this one will without a doubt change your mind.