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This isn't as much a report as much as it is a collection of reviews of the latest Finnish metal releases I have received. There are over 10 bands covering quite wide range of metal, but to my sadness there aren't any doom metal bands. Most of these bands could be roughly described as modern aggressive metal. The biggest difference compared to, for example USA, is the lack of death metal bands and there aren't many doom metal or traditional heavy or power metal bands either in this country. Black metal bands have been around relatively long in the underground, but it hasn't been until lately when the bands have become more professional and original, managing to sound quite different compared to Norwegian black metal.
Enochian Crescent -
Of this set, I can but name only a few bands that are well worth
checking out. Let's start with Enochian Crescent. After over year of
waiting, the band has finally managed to put out their simply
brilliant debut album "Telocovim" on a small Finnish label Woodcut
Records. It will also be released worldwide by Radiation Records
(sublabel of Nuclear Blast). "Telocvovim" has all the good aspects of
what makes a good black metal album: original, melodic yet aggressive
and original songs with crystal clear production and tight and
professional musicianship. The music could be also described as
sophisticated, as it isn't full speed ahead and blast beat all the
time, but rather more melodically stretching the limits of black metal
without sounding cheesy. Dark and occultic atmosphere is definately
there without the aid of typical female vocals or keyboards, instead
with subtle guitar melodies and riffs, as well as two different vocal
styles: growly death metal together with raw black metal shrieks.
"Telocovim" is an album that contains many hidden hooks and tricks,
and every time I listen to it I manage to find something new about
the songs: whether it be the lyrics of the music.
Web: http://www.grave.com/~mega/EC/
Count De Nocte -
Another "black metal" band I have been following with interest for
last couple of years is Count De Nocte. Their 1995 demo "Nos Omnes
Una Manet" already showed lots of potential in just a couple of songs.
After hearing an advance from their forthcoming MCD "Sorores
Nocte Genitae" I was convinced: this band will be one of the most
interesting names coming from the Finnish black metal scene. Count De
Nocte's music is truly a combination of technical death metal (mainly
because of the drumming) and black metal. The extreme shrieking vocals
combined with haunting and intense guitawork create a true dark
atmosphere sending shivers down your spine. And the keyword here is
originality; I have never heard a band quite like Count De Nocte. The
opening track, "Pimeys", of this forthcoming MCD, can be easily
nominated as one of the best black metal songs ever. The latest news
is that the MCD is finally out now and features over 30 minutes of
"masterly produced crushing black metal".
Web: http://www.grave.com/~mega/CdN/
And Oceans -
And Oceans has just finished their debut album; this is a band that
sent me many demos last year, developing musically from groove rocking
death metal influenced Xysma, to rather original melodic midtempo
trollisk black metal band sung in Swedish. The album is going to be
released by French Seasons of Mist records and titled "The Dynamic
Gallery of Thoughts". The album comes in very stylish digipak format.
Over 48 minutes of original fairytale grim blackmetal. Highyl
recommended!
Email: timo.kontio@cop.fi
Fall Of The Leafe -
By the time you read this, another Finnish band is going to have
released their debut album "Evanescent, Everfading" on US based
Defiled Records. The band is Fall Of The Leafe, a band you should
check out if you are into melodic folky death metal.
Email: jukouhi@uusikaupunki.fi
Web: http://koti.icenet.fi/~wolfie/fotl.htm
Eternal Tears Of Sorrow -
Another band similar in vein to Fall of the Leafe is Eternal Tears
of Sorrow, whose debut album "Sinner's Serenade" was finally released
last year on Swedish X-treme records. I haven't yet heard the album
itself, but the rehearsal tracks of the album and older demos were
rather promising. The Finnish underground scene is full of original
forms and style of this type of music.
Web: http://www.iki.fi/jape/etos.html
Black Swan -
To my delight I discovered Black Swan's debut album, "When the Angels
of Twilight Dance", has been recorded and due out in April / May on
Mastervox Records. Their debut demo, released in 1996, already caught
my attention, but it seems that I have missed their second demo,
released last year. Black Swan's music could be best described as
doomy melodic black metal, yet I'm unsure if the style has changed.
The lineup problems have been solved and a strong and interesting
debut release is awaiting us.
Web: http://www.student.oulu.fi/~jtuomiva/bs/
Ahma's debut demo last year was arather pleasant aural experience. To those who are not familiar with Ahma, their music could be simply described as crunching heavy rock with general negative approach to everything. A year later, and after some gigs and lineup changes, Ahma are back with a new four song demo. The musical style hasn't changed much but somehow this lacks the power that their debut demo had. The vocals are a raspy singing style. The keys often sound rather out of place, and unneccessary even though they are used sparingly. Ahma is probably a band that shows their capabilities fully on stage.
Web: http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/~pienimak/ahma/
I can best describe this as slightly folk influenced modern metal. This three song demo has a clear and good production, despite being recorded in only 16 hours. I can hear many Amorphis style folky melodies in every song, but this is the only similarity I can find. This is not death metal at any point, but modern melancholic melodic metal. The tempo is mainly kept slow or midtempo and some of the songs are fairly heavy because of nice crunching guitars. There is quite a bit emotion thrown in; some of the songs are based on pure aggression or angst. The singer has a clean voice without much range or depth, but he does his job well enough. Coarse is not highly original but nice to listen to.
Email: coarse@hotmail.com
Dropzone is a project band formed by various members from the Finnish underground metal scene. After reading the bio, which details the forming of a band while under the influence of alcohol and suffering from hangovers, the initial impression wasn't too good, as projects like this usually entertain only the players, and not the listeners. Dropzone plays 80's hardcore influenced metal with attitude and aggression. I am quite surprised to find out that the songs are relatively good even though hastily written, rehearsed and recorded. The use of a professional studio for recording this demo guarantees good production. The songs do not contain any tricks but are straight-forward in-your-face hardcore/metal, there aren't many reasons not to like this if you are into this type of music. Surely the songs do sound quite alike and there isn't much to catch you, but the short songs never drag and do not boring. A demo you can easily live without but might bring some light to your fucked up day.
The "Defiance" demo contains three tracks of angst ridden Machine Head / Pantera style metal. Fall is pounding, heavy and aggressive, the way it should be with this kind of music. But there is really not much to be offered here. All this has been heard so many times before, even on this very same demo.
Web: http://vertigo.muhos.fi/~amok/
In the Finnish underground, Gandalf is a band that has been rumoured and hoped for over a relatively long time, even though they haven't been around for more than a couple of years and have released only two demos/promos in 1995 and 1996. A full-length debut album was supposed to be recorded and released a long time ago, but apparently there has been some serious problems with the deal and the already finished album was never put out.
So is all the "hype" around the band to be the next big thing from Finland entirely justified? Well, yes and no. Gandalf is not a band that would be doing any ground-breaking with their music, but I have to admit that their midtempo and melodic "a bit groove thrown in"- death metal (close to the favoured Gothenburg sound) is good. The promo has a good and powerful production with nice pounding bass and there is no doubt that the band is tight and professional.
"Snakebite" is an improvement over their 1995 released demo "The Cradle". The songs have more idea and sound much less generic. There are quite a few similarities to NWOSDM, but Gandalf keeps it midtempo and there aren't those famous twin guitar attacks we are used to hearing from Swedish masters like Dark Tranquillity, Gates of Ishtar, Naglfar and many others. The closest comparison I can come up with is In Flames, though the hooks in Gandalf's songs aren't as evident and straightaway catchy.
Apparently the band's debut is going to be released by the new Earache sublabel, Wicked World. "Statements of Intent" compilation album out now also features one previously unreleased Gandalf track "Carry the Torch"
Web: http://www.sit.fi/~kriba/
Manifestium combines many elements on their six song demo from brutal death metal to doom. The opener "Solitude" is a fast death metal piece, but the clumsily arranged blast beats do not add promise to this recording. Other than the opener, the rest of the tracks are more mellow, slow doomy metal with both growly and clean male vocals and synths. Keyboard arrangements are good and unlike other bands, they manage to create a dreamy atmosphere that backs up the music nicely. A minor complaint is that in few parts the compositions are a bit immature and the lack of technical skills do shine thru. The problem is that the songs sound too alike and the longer ones even verge on becoming boring. The band should also concentrate more on one style and drop out those few blast parts, which simply do not fit into their style at all. My personal favourite song of the demo is definetely doomy & dreamy "Kehrääjä". I would like to mention that the bands message is Christian (if that makes any difference to you).
Web: http://www.finlink.net/~ossi/
Mary and Fall share some members, but where Fall's music lacks balls, Mary definately is a tough bitch who isn't afraid to kick some ass. Mary's music does have the energy Fall lacks. Mary rocks like hell and the twisted Finnish lyrics add another dimension to Mary's perverse nature. The band combines the grooviness of rock and aggression of heavy metal, the result being a nice negative heavy audio experiece. The songs are a blast of energy and aren't too long, managing to maintain the aggression level through and whole five song demo. I am quite surprised at how well the Finnish lyrics mix with the rest of the music. The vocals remind me slightly of Finnish classic rock band Hassisen Kone/Sielun Veljet, especially in the last song of the demo "Sydänverta", which is also the best track on the whole demo. There are plenty of influences from bands like Helmet, Pantera, Machine Head, yet it is hard to pinpoint any of these from Mary's music.
Web: http://vertigo.muhos.fi/~amok/
Rotten Sound's debut full length is an intense opus of grind crust hardcore (or at least that is what their bio sheet says). 22 songs and a total running time of a little over 40 minutes is quite a breath taking experience. The songs are as fast and intense as you could beforehand expect, and the good Tico Tico production, professional and tight musicianship is exactly what is needed for this kind of release. Even though I am not a big fan of the various subgenres of hardcore, Rotten Sound is aggressive and metal enough for my taste. Listening through the album all at once is a tad boring since there isn't much variety; listening to a couple of short and aggression satured songs in a row do make the adrenaline flow. The vocals are throat torturing varying from low death metalish to the tight and high pitched. There are some similarities to Impaled Nazarene's "Latex Cult" album, not just because of the music but also because of the slightly similar vocals and attitude. Rotten Sound punches you straight to face right from the first track and continues mugging through the whole album. There is nothing rotten in the band but in the world we live in...
Web: http://www.csnauta.es/repulse/rottensound/index.html
Another band that features members from other wellknown bands in the Finnish underground (Agathon on drums from Thy Serpent and Gloomy Grim, Lord Heikkinen from Tenebrae on guitars, bass and vocals, T. Launonen on vocals from Nomicon, Luopio on keyboards from Thy Serpent as well as an unknown female vocalist). Years ago I heard Soulgrind's debut album release "La Matanza, El Himno Pagano" and frankly said it was pretty boring and a horrible industrial metal. Having slight prejudices based on this early experience, I didn't have much expections for this four song advance tape, but what a great surprise it was! The band has changed drastically their style to rather experimental black/dark metal. The feeling through these four songs is dark and mystic. There are some keys used on the background as well as occassional female vocals together with growly male vocals. It might sound cliché, but believe me, it works here very well. The female vocals are warm, not peratic in style, rather down to earth and normal, yet effective. The music has a definate black metal dark feeling to it, but the biggest difference to the average band is, that Soulgrind is seldomly fast and keeps it midtempo or even slow. When the vocals get brutal you expect a typical fast blast part, but no, this band refuses to make it easy. And when you expect a slow and melodic part they blast full speed ahead. Some merry keyboard melodies every now and then create an additional schizoid feeling and all these elements really make a nice contradiction and keeps your interest up. A demonic feeling dwells through the every song, partly created by the chaotic and majestetic, yet not bombastic, keyboards.
Soulgrind manages to transcribe the atmosphere well into modern aggressive music. While Amorphis songs are based on melancholy the folktales often contain, Soulgrind focuses on the dark aspect of those tales. I just wish they would have used Finnish language instead of English to create a truly Finnish masterpiece.
I am not sure if "Whitsongs" is already released by Regress Records, but it is going to contain 13 songs, a concept album based on folktales and myths, and some of the poems are composed by Eino Leino, a Finnish author who lived in 19th century and contributed a great deal to Finnish literature.
Web: http://www.sci.fi/~darkshiv/soulg.htm
Despite the fact that Tenebrae has been around for quite a long time, I don't really have much information about the band except that it isn't their debut release. "Hypnotech" contains 38+ minutes and ten tracks of metal which could best described as technical and experimental 80's influnced speed hypno metal. The atmosphere and feeling of the album is a bit similar than VoiVod's "Dimension Hatröss", even the title track itself sounds a bit like those Canadian masters. However, this description applies only to about half of the tracks, as the rest are a bit more experimental and have more variety. Most of the time the tempo of the songs is kept midtempo or slow, rarely speeding up to slightly faster. There aren't many catchy choruses or guitar hooks to grab you. This is one of those albums you either label right away as average and boring or give it some more time and label it good. Somehow the album ends up getting better towards the end as the songs do contain interesting rhythms, beats and hypnotic vocals. It is safe to say that Tenebrae doesn't want to make it the easy way... Vocals are harsh and sung through some effect ending up sounding quite industrial, yet well fitting to to harshness of the music. The production is "metallic", slightly thin and blurry, not quite doing justice for the songs as they to end up sounding a bit messy and thus partly ruining the aural enjoyment. With better production the songs would have ended up sounding twice as heavy and crunching and also making it a bit easier to get into. It is quite weird however that the more you listen to the album, the less you notice the production and you even end up liking it even; I still dislike the way the drums are mixed. Overall the album is interesting and tries to be original, but the final strike and bullseye is missing - perhaps sounding a bit too complex just for the sake of it.
Web: http://www.sci.fi/~darkshiv/tene.htm
Unhola's second demo consists of four tracks and an intro. The trend in Finnish black metal seems to be Finnish lyrics (Mustan kuun lapset, Horna, Count De Nocte) and this is the case with Unhola as well, but in my opinion this is entirely a good and positive thing, especially when it comes to marketing Finnish BM outside the country. Finnish must sound as excotic to foreigners, and to Finnish speakers good Finnish lyrics do create a dark atmosphere that English or Norwegian lyrics rarely manage to build.
Unhola plays grim black metal with slight folk influences. The songs are rather simple and fairly long - a combination that rarely works. It takes quite a few listens before the songs grow on you, but they never manage to hit you with full force of sheer darkness and power. Tracks do slightly suffer from powerless production, but the sound quality is still relatively good. Vocal assault could be best described as low and gnarly and the songs vary from fast "Mustan veren veljeskunta" to midtempo "Täältä tullaan kuolema", which also happens to be my favorite track from this demo. The band does have quite a few interesting ideas and riffs yet not always enough to carry through the whole song.
Email: hyytidm@usa.net
Copyright ©1998 Borcek