Metal Storm logo
Oranssi Pazuzu - Värähtelijä review




Bandcamp music player
Reviewer:
8.5

158 users:
8.1
Band: Oranssi Pazuzu
Album: Värähtelijä
Release date: February 2016


01. Saturaatio
02. Lahja
03. Värähtelijä
04. Hypnotisoitu Viharukous
05. Vasemman Käden Hierarkia
06. Havuluu
07. Valveavaruus

It is happening again, here and now. After sailing on the outer regions of the Kuiper belt, and interacting with several extraterrestrial species who could impart new wisdom to them, Oranssi Pazuzu have arrived back on Terra, eager to apply this fresh knowledge to their music. What did the words of those ice giants from beyond Neptune contribute to their new sound? What about the teachings of the Tsuthians, the 9 foot tall gas ghosts who speak only in hisses? Listen carefully, ye carbon-based life forms, and Värähtelijä shall unveil the answers.

In terms of continuity, for Oranssi Pazuzu Värähtelijä very much feels like the logical "next step" after Valonielu, in that it continues its predecessor's formula of overall being far more inclined towards psychedelic music than towards black metal. Yet where Valonielu struck this reviewer as something close to "blackened space rock," with the remaining BM elements simply thrown on top of the trippy, krautrock-ish core, Värähtelijä feels like much more of a seamless fusion of the two. Although once again being dominated by a psychedelic/krautrock sound, the black metal elements that remain here aren't so much a nice little lid on top of the jar, so to speak, but more so the veins and arteries that run throughout the album's body. The infusion is much more noticeable, and this could be the closest that the band have come to a true "psychedelic black metal" album yet. "Havuluu" and "Hypnotisoitu Viharukous" are probably the finest examples of this new approach, and it's quite tasty.

At the same time, there is also an extremely catchy, almost stoner-ish sound that runs all throughout the composition of Värähtelijä. This is really no new news for Oranssi Pazuzu, as they've always written stuff that's easy to bob your head and latch onto, and Valonielu flirted with a bit of a stoner sound as well, but here this technique somehow feels.... much more developed in full. The main, opening riff on the monstrous "Vasemman Käden Hierarkia" is what really gets this action going, and the whole 18 minute track is a triumph from start to Finnish (see what I did there?). Perhaps collaborating with some of the drone doom giants in Dark Buddha Rising for Atomikylä left a bit of an influence on Oranssi for this new record. Perhaps it didn't. But whatever the case, this crunchy, riff heavy sound that listeners are treated to here is simply marvelous.

Four albums into their career, I think it's pretty safe to say that Oranssi Pazuzu have now put any doubts of them being formidable innovators within the realms of both psychedelia and black metal to rest. Värähtelijä roughly translates out to "The Vibrator," and while this release unfortunately isn't a concept album about dildos in space (at least as far as I know), it is most definitely one that can help you "vibrate" to those higher planes that Oranssi Pazuzu are operating on. As the band have employed different techniques on each of their albums, some listeners will probably find the minute details they're looking for here, and some probably won't. But for the most part, it can definitely be said that Värähtelijä is yet another quality chapter in an ever-expanding saga of cosmic DMT black metal from beyond the event horizon. Strap on those oxygen tanks and play it loud.

Go traverse the wormhole.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 8
Songwriting: 9
Originality: 9
Production: 9





Written on 04.02.2016 by Metal Storm’s own Babalao. Comforting the disturbed and disturbing the comfortable since 2013.


Comments

Comments: 20   [ 1 ignored ]   Visited by: 454 users
04.02.2016 - 17:04
paragraph7

It's more like "Resonator" or you know, something that is reverberating/resonating. But thanks for the review; i'm really overdue with these guys and have to check them out asap.
Loading...
04.02.2016 - 17:23
3rdWorld
China was a neat
Oranssi Pazuzu is back! Definitely love this one much more than the last record and it is their best since the debut for me. God, this year is going to be so good for metal. I think finally I will have a metal year as good as '13 this time.
Loading...
04.02.2016 - 17:38
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by 3rdWorld on 04.02.2016 at 17:23

Oranssi Pazuzu is back! Definitely love this one much more than the last record and it is their best since the debut for me. God, this year is going to be so good for metal. I think finally I will have a metal year as good as '13 this time.

At the moment, I'd probably rank em as...

1. Kosmonument
2. Värähtelijä
3. Muukalainen Puhuu
4. Valonielu

That's not to say I didn't enjoy Valonielu, at times though it just felt like a black metal album that didn't really want to be one, and the effects that had on the composition were a bit underwhelming for me. Kosmonument remains my favorite... I think it's easily their darkest album, their best in terms of the layering of the atmospheric effects, and also the best in terms of bass audibility. But this one is creeping up there, and is a pretty close #2 for me. Fine example of a band that can still remain potent with significantly different formulas.
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
Loading...
04.02.2016 - 20:52
Candlemass
Defaeco
I'm really enjoying it so far. Very atmospheric.
Loading...
04.02.2016 - 20:52
Candlemass
Defaeco
I'm really enjoying it so far. Very atmospheric.
Loading...
04.02.2016 - 22:22
AV6

Good review, really looking forward to this.
Loading...
04.02.2016 - 22:44
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by AV6 on 04.02.2016 at 22:22

Good review, really looking forward to this.

It's probably my 2016 AOTY thus far, along with the new Ulver album, which I'll also be reviewing soon
Although it'll certainly be interesting to see what else ends up matching it as the year progresses, or topping it for that matter!
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
Loading...
05.02.2016 - 22:25
Netzach
Planewalker
"DMT black metal", spot on.

Excited to hear this one, Valonielu was a very good trip.
Loading...
09.02.2016 - 14:10
angelofbland

One of the most innovative and trippy albums I have ever heard. This is a 10 out of 10 for me. There are moments that you mind really resonates to the music. An unprecedented extreme metal experience.
Loading...
17.02.2016 - 22:59
Night_Manager

Back to Terra? But Pazuzu has been here, in the seventies. Have people forgotten The Exorcist, the movie? There was Pazuzu too.
Loading...
17.02.2016 - 23:25
Rating: 8
Karlabos
Meat and Potatos
Bot detected
----
"Aah! The cat turned into a cat!"
- Reimu Hakurei
Loading...
18.02.2016 - 23:09
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Night_Manager on 17.02.2016 at 22:59

Back to Terra? But Pazuzu has been here, in the seventies. Have people forgotten The Exorcist, the movie? There was Pazuzu too.

I believe he was going by "Captain Howdy" in that one though
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
Loading...
22.02.2016 - 09:07
Velvet Thorns

Beautiful album, can't wait to see them at Roadburn
----
restless oblivion forever
Loading...
22.02.2016 - 15:38
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Velvet Thorns on 22.02.2016 at 09:07

Beautiful album, can't wait to see them at Roadburn

Ooooh, you're going as well? I'll be right there in the Patronaat with ya then!
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
Loading...
23.02.2016 - 23:57
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
They will be playing at the Patronaat? Huh, it will be an exact copy of the time I saw them back in Roadburn 2012 at the Patronaat.
I was at the balcony though, sitting on a couch and chilling. Maybe I'll be upfront this time!
----
Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
Loading...
24.02.2016 - 00:40
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by X-Ray Rod on 23.02.2016 at 23:57

They will be playing at the Patronaat?

Mhmm, and I believe Dark Buddha Rising are on Friday as well. The Patronaat has really become my favorite spot at Roadburn for seeing bands that are really bass-heavy and have a lot of spacey effects to them, the acoustics of the room are really ideal for it
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
Loading...
18.10.2016 - 01:58
VIG
Account deleted
This is like a 10/10 for me. seriously
Loading...
18.10.2016 - 03:48
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Guest on 18.10.2016 at 01:58

This is like a 10/10 for me. seriously

It's getting up there for me as well man. Kosmonument has typically been my favorite album from these guys but this new output has given that a serious run for its money
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
Loading...
30.03.2017 - 00:02
Cavernous

It's an interesting album but highly overrated considering the universal praise it has received. I hate the over the top tight production, and it has too much boring dark ambient in between. The metal parts are great (even if they doesn't sound like metal because of the weird production) but I miss more heavyness overall.
Loading...
30.03.2017 - 03:09
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Cavernous on 30.03.2017 at 00:02

It's an interesting album but highly overrated considering the universal praise it has received. I hate the over the top tight production, and it has too much boring dark ambient in between. The metal parts are great (even if they doesn't sound like metal because of the weird production) but I miss more heavyness overall.

Eh, I guess it depends on taste and what you're looking for really. I'll agree with you this album doesn't really sound like their previous releases and overall is a lot less heavy. Oranssi Pazuzu have definitely been embracing more of the psychedelia and less of the BM from one album to the next. But that's what makes them super interesting to me, honestly, they have their core formula locked down of course but they still have never really done the same thing twice
----
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
Loading...

Hits total: 9968 | This month: 6