Agalloch/Nest Split

I am off for a long weekend in the Catskill Mountains. The unofficial start of summer every year includes good friends, good music, better drink and a certain serenity offered by nature. This year, I am just glad that the nature in my part of the country, that I choose to visit and enjoy, is not covered by oil.

The prolific Agalloch released this split 10 inch with Finland's Nest in 2004. Each band contributing a single song of pensive neo-folk majesty. Agalloch also contributed the vocals and acoustic guitar to the Nest track. You may recognize the Agalloch track, as it is a bit of a reprise of "Hallways of Enchanted Ebony" from their full length Pale Folklore. Aslak Tolonen, of Nest, produced the cover art for both sides of the record.

Fuck BP. Fuck the President.

...enjoy...

Nihil

It's Wednesday of a very long week and we are all in need of some Impaled Nazarene. Black, unholy, punk, fucking grind, did I say black?, sick as all shit Finns. Just look at that album art... Gas masks, goat heads and s&m... why not? Some in the uptight EU have blacklisted Impaled Nazarene and prevented or hindered the sale of their albums. What is so wrong about loving goat heads and hating Communists?

The one time I was fortunate enough to witness the spectacle that is Impaled Nazarene, lead vocalist Mika Lutinen opened the ceremonies with "You wanted the best!?" "Well, you got us...suck cocks!" Well played, sir.

There are numerous associated metal acts with ties to these purveyors of apocalyptic metal. But of special note is the presence of Alexi Laiho, of Children of Bodom fame, establishing a life time's worth of metallic street cred with his 2 year tour of duty in Impaled Nazarene.

Now, go smoke some crack and worship Satan.....

...enjoy...

The Eyeless Horde

So, it is Easter weekend and I'm looking for an appropriate post. I was going to go all serious and put up some seriously heavy Christian themed music. But alas, I've decided to go in another direction...

For the resurrection weekend, we have on display Finland's Hooded Menace and their demo/ep from 2007, The Eyeless Horde. Via crushingly heavy doom with death metal vocals these Fins pay homage to the work of Spanish director and cult-horror hero Armando de Ossorio. For those of you who have deprived yourselves of the treat, Ossorio created a series of four films collectively referred to as the "Blind Dead" in the early '70s in which undead Templar Knights rise from the grave and go about wreaking havoc. Oh yeah, did I mention that they are blind?... But they can hear your ass so don't get all confident. This two song demo/ep is as heavy as it is slow. It plods along with the steadfast determination of a Blind zombie Templar Knight who is going to get you and just may rip off your clothes in the process. Think you can out run a slow as all shit blind zombie? Maybe you can... but they can also ride horses.

shhh...be vewy vewy quiet...

Kauan

Finland's Tenhi blend the minimalist atmosphere of neo-folk with a rock foundation, creating an ethereal and moving tribute to all things melancholy and alone. Kauan (1999), their first full length, is a beautiful and stunning creation. Its' sound is stark yet rich, invoking the spirit of nature throughout. The acoustic guitars weave effortless melodies, like ripples on a calm lake's surface. There are occasional pianos as well as violins and even a didgeridoo, aiding to create this masterpiece. This album is everything that neo-folk should be. It takes the listener on a journey through a series of natural landscapes, where gentle sounds and whispered echoes paint a scene of simple beauty. The sparse and haunting vocals are in Finnish, but the song titles are accompanied by English translations so you will at least have a starting point for their meaning. However, it isn't necessary as the album is emotive beyond the barriers of language. Kauan is an experience and it seems fitting that with the start of Spring, it be posted.

..enjoy..

rajaportti

Driving melancholic rock is the name of Finnish group Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus' game. Their music flirts with metal but generally stays within the rock arena and their melodies are of the mournful Finn variety. Rajaportti is an easily accessible and catchy album. Now, here's the kicker: it's all in their native tongue. I don't speak a lick of Finnish...okay, maybe like three words, but they aren't helping me much with this album. Still, Timo and the gang are masters at communicating emotion through song, even with a language barrier firmly set between us. There is one line that I know is somewhere on the album, although I'm not sure where because again, I don't speak Finn, but I believe it conveys the sentiment of Rajaportti well, "It is difficult to hang ones self when the ceiling is too low and the rope too thick." Can you argue with that notion? I cannot.

.enjoy.