The Banner of Victory Blazing Productions describe as “Powerful Ukrainian Deathcore with folk elements” sceptical me a little bit. But when reading the information that a Drudkh member is on board, my curiosity was awaken.

The opening song Sun in the Bosom introduces the record calmly with clear, spherical sounds. After round about one minute the actually song starts with hard and technical riffs and a powerful drumming. The crystal-clear and powerful sound attracts positive instantly, even the bass guitar is heard obviously. Thunderkraft lingers for a while in these sluggish beats and sounds as good old Death Metal. But when joining the vocals, rhythm is getting faster and heavier, atmosphere is changing. It is getting very varied. Stomping dragging bass-loaded passages change with faster ones, a quiet keyboard is heard in the background occasionally. Masquerade to the Blind starts as a classic modern Death metal piece: dry, precise and technical. But this impression doesn't last so long, Thunderkraft also exhibits very diversified. Both the drums as the guitars are played variable, whereby powerful, slogging beats predominate. The riffs come fluent and alive; elsewhere they are very technical and extremely hard. Although a keyboard is heard in the refrain, Thunderkraft never affects effusively melodically, the filling bastion of bass and drumming procures a hard atmosphere totally.

About all Thunderkraft gets really aggressive very rarely. There are some fast and catching structured passages, but the band's attention rest in mid-fast and sluggish staging. The folkloristic components appear in Mors Triumphalis , which begins calmly with folkloristic played flute. After this quiet and lovely introduction Mors Triumphali s develops to an atmospheric, very powerful as varied song. First of all it is impelling quickly and sluggishly with fast riffing. The refrain is under laid with a charming and dismal acting keyboard, so Thunderkraft shapes the refrain particularly. At the end comes a calm melodic passage, superseded by an exceedingly hard and fast part that fades away the song. In Matters of Chaos - dedicated to Vsevit of Dub Buk - stomping music accompanies with electronic sounds, that I assume rather Techno as Metal. In the last track The Might of the Thunder folkloristic elements comes once more, are being combined with atmospheric alignment.

The Banner of Victory is a very interesting record that turns out to be much diversified, different styles interact and consume perfectly. Describing this music as “Powerful Deathcore” seems to be correct; it gives many technical and modern elements - but not solely. Just so dark and atmospheric parts are there, too, having nothing to do with Deathcore as more domiciled in Doom Metal and Black Metal. The very good production, awarding the music an exclusively mighty and powerful sound is suited and emphasizes the music appropriable. Thunderkraft leaves a perfect impression with 'The Banner Of Victory' and I will catch an eye on this band.


Aceust


(Translation by G.P.)

01. Sun in the bosom
02. Masquerade for the blind / Prison of souls
03. North inside
04. Mors triumphalis
05. Matter of chaos
06. Majesty and might
07. The might of the thunder


THUNDERKRAFT
BLAZING PRODUCTIONS