Dauþuz first came across my radar over five years ago, with their thematic focus on traditional German mining serving as a very unique point of entry — especially when coupled with a solid backbone of black metal equally atmospheric and melodic, and just enough folk elements to complement the subject matter. After skipping out on their last couple releases I’ve revisited the band with their sixth full-length Uranium; the subject matter may be more contemporary and less fantastical than what the band has covered previously, but the quality of music remains the same.

For those already familiar with Dauþuz’s previous work there’s very little to be found in the Uranium mine that differs from past material; for the uninitiated, the duo play black metal heavily focused on long, drawn-out melodic lines as opposed to something more riff-focused. You won’t find any post-black crescendos here, with isolated guitars often serving as the transitory vehicle between segments. One of Dauþuz’s strongest aspects is the vocal performance of Syderyth G., alternating between deeper roars, banshee-like shrieks, and chantlike cleans effortlessly. The clean vocals are probably the most compelling aspect of the band as a whole, both giving the band more dynamic range and fitting perfectly with the subject material — on past releases it wasn’t hard to envision a company of dwarves singing while they mined away for the earth’s hidden treasures, replaced here by the anguished cries of those working in the NKVD-administered uranium mines of Saxony and the band’s native Thuringia during the Cold War. Blast beats are (not unexpectedly) a constant, but the band really hits their stride in more mid-paced rhythmic sections highly evocative of a pickaxe digging into rock.

Uranium isn’t any sort of great leap in quality nor departure in sound, but that’s perfectly okay. Dauþuz continue to mine their own distinct vein within the black metal mountain, and based on the amount of material they’ve been putting out since their debut in 2016 they’ve yet to reach their half-life. Whether tackling archaic, fantastical, or modern themes, there’s few other bands so steeped in their subject material.

— Colin

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Uranium will be available May 3 on Amor Fati Productions. For more information on Dauþuz, check out their Facebook and Instagram pages.