Checking in with Ukrainians Windswept, consisting of all of Drudkh's line-up barring vocalist Thurios, and they're still producing the same angry bursts of black metal as before, a little less melodic this time if anything. Opener Verbrannte Brucken especially is a rushing torrent of anger, dropping the listener immediately into the river of sound with flowing guitar riffs, a complex drum barrage, and strained screams atop like a desperate drowning man struggling to stay afloat. The constant cymbal crashing especially torments the ear, even though this is quite solidly produced, and you can't help but feel relief when it ends. The following Die Bürde der Erinnerungen is slightly more melodic but equally as intense, howled vocals in a blizzard of sound, with a section around the midpoint that features a post-punk, almost progressive section with some diverse drum fills from Vlad before throwing you back into the storm. Unusual for this project, but more than welcome!

What also marks this out as more interesting than previous Windswept material is the shift to German lyrics from Ukrainian, and the presence of two guest vocalists. Information online is limited, yet it seems that the opening two tracks are voiced by Winterherr of Paysage D'Hiver, and the latter two by The Ruins of Beverast's Meilenwald. And there is a slight contrast between them, the harrowing first two tracks having a different feel to the latter two despite the music itself being largely similar. Meilenwald's deeper snarl immediately makes Drangsal more ominous and foreboding, the shimmering riffs dancing above the vocals, and some deeper clean vocals used well as a counterpart.

The true highlight here is definitely ten minute closer Jedes Todes Lohn, however, the most atmospheric piece present with the kind of melodic, evocative riffing that we've come to expect from Drudkh - and if you ever wondered what that band collaborating with The Ruins of Beverast would sound like, wonder no more, because the results are fantastic. Gripping from the start and holding your attention as it flows (even if like your reviewer the lyrics are incomprehensible) with some more than solid instrumentation, particularly Vlad's drumming and the clearly audible bass from Krechet. A slight gothic tone thanks to more of the clean singing from Meilenwald works terrifically well, as does a kick-up in tempo at the mid-point to increase the intensity even more. They may not always be the most interesting Drudkh-related project, yet Windswept have given us black metal fanatics a real gift of an EP here thanks to the guest vocalists.