“It’s old news to loyal readers that I really took to the last Omnium Gatherum opus (as did AMG himself). Though I appreciated their prior album The Redshift a lot, I certainly wasn’t expecting the monumental slab of Finnish melo-death mixed with mega-melodic Euro-power metal that was New World Shadows. It’s one of those rare albums that has the perfect mix of atmosphere, melody, hooks and power, and it was my album of the year in 2011. I was pretty sure Omnium Gatherum would be unable to equal or top it, and when Beyond appeared in my promo bin, it was just of question of how close they could could get to the ridiculous quality of NWS.” So, how close DOES this get to New World Shadows? Steel Druhm busts out his slide rule and does some scientific measurements, so you don’t have to.
Finnish Metal
Stratovarius – Nemesis Review
“During my tenure here at AMG, I don’t think I’ve taken quite so much guff for a review as when I gave the last Stratovarius opus (Elysium) a mere 3.0. I found that rather funny, since a 3.0 is a pretty good score around these parts. While Elysium had some very good songs, it had several rough spots and a general lack of energy that short-circuited the album’s flow. Now I’m tasked with examining Nemesis, the follow-up by one of the titans of Euro-power and a band I’ve respected and enjoyed for a long time. It turns out to be a tough album to get a handle on.” Watch Steel Druhm search for a handle on things and when he finds it, things aren’t gonna be pretty.
Convulse – Inner Evil EP Review
Like many tragic biographies of great artists who were not recognized in their time, Finnish death metal pioneers Convulse released only two records during the brief initial run of their career: World Without God in 1991 and Reflections in 1994. In the intervening years, they have become recognized as an important and influential extreme metal force in the country. Now, nearly two decades after their last release, Convulse are finally making music again together.
Vorum – Poisoned Void Review
Back in 2009, Finnish death metallers Vorum produced what I think is probably the finest EP ever written. At twenty minutes long, Grim Death Awaits is a veritable tour de force of the kind of evil, heavy-but-groove-oriented death metal with an old school feel that so many bands have tried to imitate but never really could. The riffs were razor sharp, but there was a fiendish furiousness and seriousness reminiscent of the most orthodox of black metal bands. Few songs on Grim Death Awaits peaked longer than 2 minutes, and while some reviewers complained about certain aspects, this was death metal of a pure, distilled form. Twenty minutes of death metal perfection. But of course, you all know what expectations means…
Things You Might Have Missed 2012: Kotipelto and Liimatainen – Blackoustic
Steel Druhm is back with more crap you might have missed due to the many distractions of your busy lives. This time, it’s an all-acoustic set by members of Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica. What? You don’t like acoustic sets? What kind of metalhead are you???
Wintersun – Time I Review
For a few years now, the proverbial white whale of the heavy metal scene has been a new Wintersun record. After the band’s initial, highly acclaimed (some would say overrated), self-titled debut from 2004 former Ensiferum frontman Jari Mäenpää essentially fell off the face of the earth. Now, I’m not a die-hard fan, so I have not kept up with the ridiculous, neurotic, Axl Rose-like kabuki theater that apparently drove fans nuts, but the fact that 8 years later we’re getting record number two should probably tell you the torture that Jari put his fans through. Teaming up with Kai Hanto of Swallow the Sun on drums, Jukka Koskinen of Amberian Dawn and Cain’s Offering on bass and Teemu Mäntysaari of the short-lived Imperanon on guitar, Jari’s new record, what we now know to be 2012’s Time I, has teased fans for years and has ruffled some feathers. So the question is at it always is: can this record possibly live up to the sky-high expectations that the fans have.
Hooded Menace – Effigies of Evil Review
Ah, what could be better than nasty, heavy-as-hell Finnish doom-death to ease the transition from summer to fall. In case you haven’t heard, winter is coming…
Seremonia – Seremonia Review
More Finnish music you never heard of? Yep, and this time it’s vest metal! Seremonia brings you some doom rockin, acid ingesting, 60s influenced rock with creepy female vox and Finnish lyrics. If that patches your denim, then read on, flower child!
Hexvessel – No Holier Temple Review
Explaining a group that calls themselves “Finnish psychedelic forest folk” is about as easy as completing the final course on Ninja Warrior whilst drunk on moonshine, but Steel Druhm gives it a go anyway. Assemble the trauma team!!
Ensiferum – Unsung Heroes Review
Ensiferum is back with a mid-paced grower that is almost nothing like 2009’s From Afar. Angry Metal Guy breaks it down.