Band:	Oranssi Pazuzu
Album:	Mestarin Kynsi
Style:	Psychedelic black metal
Release date:	April 2020

01. Ilmestys
02. Tyhjyyden Sakramentti
03. Uusi Teknokratia
04. Oikeamielisten Sali
05. Kuulen Ääniä Maan Alta
06. Taivaan Portti

They just keep the dank jamz a'coming.

The Finns in Oranssi Pazuzu, who should at this point be a pretty well known name in the black metal underground, have gradually been turning up the knob on their psychedelic, space rock personality roughly since 2013's Valonielu. The trend continued with 2016's Värähtelijä and also with the band's massive Waste Of Space Orchestra collab last year with Dark Buddha Rising. Sloooowwwwly but surely, Oranssi Pazuzu have been placing less emphasis on the kvlty, black metal side of their personality and becoming a lot jammier, bouncier, and all around trippyer for the better part of the past 6 years.

It shouldn't be too surprising then that Mestarin Kynsi, the band's fifth full length, comes as perhaps the biggest embrace of their jammy space rock persona yet, so much so that for the first time Oranssi Pazuzu have seriously brought the question of whether or not their music should really be dubbed "black metal" into the picture. Indeed, the songwriting this time around leans far more in a riff heavy, almost stoner-ish direction, being slowly plodding, highly rhythmic, catchy, and seeming to be grounded much more in a sort of heavy psychedelic rock foundation than in black metal. Bass, which was always pretty pronounced and audible with Oranssi Pazuzu from the start, somehow seems even more hypnotizing and in the forefront, especially on a track like "Tyhjyyden Sakramentti." The band have also gotten a lot more repetitive, appearing to take longer than they previously did to transition from one melody to another, becoming a little more content with just jamming the same riff for extended periods to maximize the hypnotic effect.

Quite noticeable this time around as well, which may perhaps be the key point distinguishing Mestarin Kynsi from past Oranssi Pazuzu releases, is the use of keyboard. This has always been present in the band's sound, even since their debut, but I can't remember any other time since perhaps Kosmonument that it sounded so brought out and in command of the composition. Even then, on Kosmonument the keys were mostly used to create a dark, swirling effect, and on Mestarin Kynsi they sound more in the vein of classic acid rock in a sense, almost organ-like at points. The phenomenal "Kuulen Ääniä Maan Alta," probably my favorite track here, is the best example, with it's rhythmic, groovy-as-a-lava-lamp opening that slowly gives way to the keys entering about midway before they take complete control of the track and bring it to an epic, almost symphonic-sounding climax.

I first discovered Oranssi Pazuzu back in 2011 when they released Kosmonument, and damn? they've come quite a long way since then, and their sound, while still still true to a common theme they established on their debut, has evolved considerably. One could be tempted to think that the toning down of their black metal identity would make Oranssi Pazuzu's music more boring and lack a significant bite, but this simply isn't the case. On the contrary, over the past 4 or so years, in becoming more jam and psych oriented the band somehow seem to have only become more emotive, mesmerizing, and all around memorable in their delivery. Mestarin Kynsi only keeps this ball rolling and demonstrates that the Orange Sumerian Wind Demon shows no signs whatsoever of slowing down its momentum or creativity any time soon.

Turn on, tune in, drop out.