The trio that make up SKARDUS have carved a nice little niche for themselves over the last few years, and this latest release continues their involvment in the folk-tinged, hypnotic, yet earthy BM of the Baltic scene. This scene originated of course in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, but these days it’s accepted that a similar feel is experienced with bands from Sweden, bits of Poland, and in the case of SKARDUS, the coastline of north Germany. Ut De Deep is four tracks of varied, through-composed folk-tinged BM, but heavy with a death-vibe, it’s a little bit un-settled, and it proudly blasts its laments across the echoey void of that un-salty sea and towards its pagan-hearted neighbours, urging them to hear the call and join forces.
Opener En ehrgierig Drööm ( don’t ask us to translate ) is a song we presume is written in some archaic German dialect. That alone should tell you what we’re dealing with. But not only that, the riff is a real ear-worm! We were transfixed. It’s no wonder they used to burn musicians for the crime of witchcraft!
So, here it is, written out for you to play yourself.
Overall this 26 minute listen covers quite a lot of ground, with Bathory-esque keyboards on Ünnergang, and dare we say it…Ennio Morricone influences on final track Un Still liggt de See.
SKARDUS do play live, so if you are able – go and see them.
faustian nosebleed 
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