Nightfall In Suomi: Finnish Tales Of The Dark And Surreal
Nightfall In Suomi: Finnish Tales Of The Dark And Surreal
I took a crack at this list a while ago and then scrapped it. Time for the revival. The idea here is simple enough. For quite a while now Finland seems to have established a formidable reputation for interpretations of metal that are just all around more mindbending, forward thinking and subversive than much of their other counterparts in the international community. This is most noticeable in the realms of black and doom metal, which will be the focus of this list. More or less from the 90s on, much experimentation along the darker, more esoteric lines has been taking place within these arenas of Finnish metal, and the trend continues today. Let's take a look see, shall we?
One album per band. Recs encouraged and appreciated. Full streams provided when available.
One album per band. Recs encouraged and appreciated. Full streams provided when available.
4.
Skepticism
- Stormcrowfleet
Arguably the inaugural funeral doom album, here the Finns in Skepticism established many important staples of the style to come: slow, "funereal" paced doom, heavy as thunder guitars, and a penchant for eerie, dreamlike atmosphere via intense, stimulating keyboard usage. Over 20 years later, this album remains immensely respected for a reason.
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5.
Woods Of Belial
- Baxabaxaxaxaxabaxaxaxaxa! 666 Yndstr Draconis
The spiritual forefathers of so called "dissonant black metal," Woods Of Belial were flirting with grinding, atonal experimentation well before it reached a wider audience with the likes of Blut Aus Nord and Deathspell Omega. It's difficult to really put a label on this music, as it's quite layered and multidimensional, but boiling down to it it's a bizarre, nightmarish fusion of black metal, doom, and industrial music. The result is nothing short of haunting, and the piercing, Wrest-like shrieks of Ville Sorvali are the icing on the cake.
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7.
Horse Latitudes
- Gathering
Horse Latitudes are an unusual trio for sure. Laughing in the face of "it has to have guitar to be metal" type idiots, these Finns craft their doom with no guitar, TWO bassists, a drummer, synths, and a vocalist. The result is an absolutely dense, smothering, and mesmerizing sound oozing of various drone and occult influences. A real hypnotizer. https://tinyurl.com/yarteth9
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10.
Mörkö
- Itsensänimeävä
A criminally unknown band, and admittedly a favorite of mine in the blackened doom arena because of how tight their fusion of the two is. At some moments gritty and aggressive, at others more bouncy, jammy, and psychedelic, and featuring a peculiar use of clean vocals not typical of this style. A weird little bastard, but a great one at that. https://tinyurl.com/ybmvms6f
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11.
Dark Buddha Rising
- Inversum
These sorcerers have become an unquestionable force to be reckoned with in the realms of doom and drone music in recent years. Rhythmic, repetitive grooves that induce semi-conscious states, phenomenal drumming that sounds improvised at many points, and an impressive use of chants make this an ideal Bardo Thodol soundtrack. https://tinyurl.com/y9as4xaa
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14.
Atomikylä
- Keräily
Atomikylä is the result of the merging of two formidable forces in Finland's psychedelic underground, featuring Vesa and Jukka from Dark Budda Rising and Ontto and Jun-His from Oranssi Pazuzu. The result, while gearing more toward DBR's smothering drone doom sound, is still spacey as hell, and complete with subtle shades of black metal riffing and shrieks to remind listeners that Oranssi Pazuzu certainly haven't been lost in the final recipe either. https://atomikyla.bandcamp.com/album/ker-ily
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17.
Oranssi Pazuzu
- Värähtelijä
A growing favorite of Finnish metal for many as of late, Oranssi Pazuzu have been on an upward climb through the lands of black metal and psychedelia since their powerful 2009 debut. This latest effort sees them shifting gears into a bouncier, more space rock influenced territory, but that black metal presence is nonetheless still there, and weaves itself around the psychedelic elements perhaps better than ever before. https://tinyurl.com/z7qln8e
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Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by Auntie Sahar ]
[ More lists by Auntie Sahar ]
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 Posts: 5989 |
Posts: 5989 Written by [user id=159927] on 18.01.2018 at 15:54 Christ, you don't miss a beat  And no, this list is focusing on black and doom, Demilich are a great band, but not demonstrative of any rising trend towards experimentalism or otherworldliness in Finnish death metal. They're an anomaly for sure.
---- 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
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Posts: 9612
DUDE YOU MISSED CHILDREN OF BODOM AND NIGHTWISH
---- Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking One day there will be no heart at all?
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Posts: 5989 Written by RaduP on 18.01.2018 at 16:13 Good bait, lad. E for Effort
---- 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
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Posts: 9612
Lemme just Skepticism
---- Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking One day there will be no heart at all?
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Posts: 5989 Written by RaduP on 18.01.2018 at 16:47 Debating it, Stormcrowfleet wouldn't be a bad idea here.
---- 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
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Posts: 9612 Written by Auntie Sahar on 18.01.2018 at 16:47 Dude Thergothon
---- Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking One day there will be no heart at all?
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Posts: 5989 Written by RaduP on 18.01.2018 at 16:51 Yeah, I've heard of that band and album, never actually listened though. I'll check it and some others out on my lunch break
---- 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
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Posts: 5989 Written by [user id=159927] on 18.01.2018 at 17:00 Them and Portal most likely, you're not wrong.
---- 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
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 Posts: 837 |
Posts: 837
So I finally ended up giving in and listening to Dark Buddha rising. Pretty great, I've been missing out.
---- You are the hammer, I am the nail building a house in the fire on the hill
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Posts: 3554
Nice list! Finland seriously seems to have the highest concentration of great metal of pretty much any country. Some suggestions that partially ignore your black/doom focus because I do what I want; Swallowed - Lunarterial, October Falls - The Womb Of Primordial Nature, Tenhi - Kauan, Vomiturition - A Leftover, Amorphis - The Karelian Isthmus, and Hexvessel - Dawnbearer. Idk if any of these really fit your list's direction, but oh well.
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Posts: 5989 Written by Alex F on 18.01.2018 at 23:54 Forgot all about Hexvessel, and I've been meaning to check out Swallowed. The others I haven't listened to.
---- 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
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Posts: 5989 Written by Desha on 18.01.2018 at 23:22 Yeah they're incredible, definitely see them live if the opportunity ever comes your way.
---- 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
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Posts: 837 Written by Auntie Sahar on 19.01.2018 at 00:08 I mean I'm kind of going to see them at Roadburn later this year, even if it's together with Oranssi Pazuzu.
---- You are the hammer, I am the nail building a house in the fire on the hill
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Posts: 5989 Written by Desha on 19.01.2018 at 10:31 Oh word? Didn't know you'd be there, but yeah that's definitely close enough. I'm getting there early to be right in front for that "Waste In Space" thing myself, hope to see ya!
---- 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
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