Genre(s): Atmospheric Black Metal, Post-Metal, Experimental Metal
Starter Tracks: Ilmestys, Uusi Teknokratia, Oikeamielisten Sali
Label: Nuclear Blast
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Review: 15/12/2020 - Revisiting my most liked albums of 2020 has invited some reappraisals of my initial thoughts and feelings. While I stand by everything I previously wrote, the balance between the brilliant songwriting and uncomfortable vocal elements has shifted decisively in favor of the brilliant songwriting. The music here is simply otherworldy and undeniably progressive in any very positive sense of the word. Mestarin Kynsi is essential listening in 2020 and onward.
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Full disclosure: I listened to this album genuinely wanting to hate it. Count me as one of those people who barely considers experimental atmospheric black metal as music. But regardless of how you might feel about black metal or the various kinds of atmospheric post-rock sub genres out there today, there is still something irresistible about this record. Every song on this record is a clinic on how to skillfully layer music and build tension. And unlike so much of the music in this sub-genre, the ambience actually contains discernible melodious musical ideas.
However, the tragedy of this record is the insufferable and suffocating black metal vocals. Time after time, vocalist Ontto insists on interrupting the band's groove with the most grating black metal vocals you've ever heard (outside of the lo-fi traditional black metal). It's not that harsh vocals wouldn't work with this music at all, it's the specific style, timing, and perhaps mixing of them that is so off-putting.
Oranssi Pazuzu are clearly an exceptional and envelope shattering group. And while they certainly don't owe it to anyone to change or adapt their sound in anyway, I genuinely regret that their vocal choices are going to deprive a larger audience of hearing what actually makes this band so exceptional.
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