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Album Review – Infirmum / From The Depths I Cried (2024)

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This Finnish Symphonic Doom Metal band returns with their captivating sophomore album, offering an atmospheric journey through the darkest corners of the human soul.

Formed in early 2019 in the Finnish city of Jyväskylä, Symphonic Doom Metal outfit Infirmum has been approaching the genre in a unique and complex way with a sound that explores aspects of classical music combined with the traditional weight and melancholy of doom, having already released their debut album Walls of Sorrow, in 2020, followed by the EP The Great Unknown, in 2022. Now in 2024, the band formed of Sabine Blodwin (Moonwitch, Draconian Opera, Pettalom) on vocals, Taka Eliel (Sanctuary of Hate) on vocals and bass, Erna Siikavirta (Lordi, Children of Bodom, Sinergy, Arthemesia, Deathlike Silence) on keyboards, Joonas Siikavirta (Begrim) and Timo Solonen (Grain of Pain) on the guitars, Hanna-Leena “Hanska” (Mourning Wood) on drums, and Elya on cello is unleashing their sophomore opus, titled From The Depths I Cried, pointing to an exciting new direction in their career. Recorded by the band itself, mixed by Tuomas Kokko at Electric Fox Studios, and mastered by Samu Oittinen at Fantom Studio, the album brings forward heavy music that can be described as profound and conflicted, exploring the darkest sides of human emotions, diving into the depths of madness, pain, sickness, and death, while still finding brief moments of hope, offering an atmospheric journey through the darkest corners of the human soul.

Eerie sounds gradually grow in intensity in the sluggish, grim and visceral opening track Pact until the phantasmagorical keys by Erna give the song a strong Doom Metal vibe, with the vocal duet of Sabine and Taka sounding truly haunting, whereas the following tune, titled Everlasting, begins in a even more obscure way, again presenting cryptic background elements before Hanna-Leena begins hammering her drums in the name of doom and with Taka gnarling like a demonic entity nonstop, not to mention how melodic and melancholic the cello by Elya sounds and feels. Then the band goes full Blackened and Funeral Doom in Burn, sounding as heavy as it can be to the massive drums by Hanna-Leena and the guttural roars by Taka.

Deception is another eight-minute feast of darkened sounds with an enfolding atmosphere, with Sabine hypnotizing us all with her darkly melodic vocals supported by the band’s classic riffs and the always charming cello by Elya; and the crying sound of the cello sets the tone in Peace, taking the song’s melancholy to a whole new level. Furthermore, the name of the song is deceiving as the peace they’re singing about might be just outside, while inside you can feel all of their grief and pain. It’s then time for Infirmum to blast their heaviest sonority in Ephemeral, with the sharp riffs by Timo and Joonas walking hand in hand with the hammering drums by Hanna-Leena, while Erna and Elya build a whimsical background to add extra layers to their music. Lastly, a ritualistic start morphs into one final shot of doom by Infirmum titled Icamiabas, with the keys by Erna exhaling obscurity. It’s not the strongest song of the album, but still a decent one to conclude the band’s black mass.

Not many bands can blend the ethereal sounds of Symphonic Metal with the sheer heaviness of Doom Metal like what Infirmum have to offer in their new album (already available in full on Spotify), and you can show your support and admiration for such an amazing band from the land of ice and snow by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, and above all that, by grabbing a copy of From The Depths I Cried from BandCamp, from Record Shop X, or by clicking HERE. As mentioned, Infirmum are exposing the darkest sides of human emotions in their newborn spawn, inviting us all for a one-way trip to the depths of doom.

Best moments of the album: Everlasting, Deception and Ephemeral.

Worst moments of the album: Icamiabas.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Pact 9:01
2. Everlasting 7:57
3. Burn 5:18
4. Deception 8:07
5. Peace 8:28
6. Ephemeral 7:51
7. Icamiabas 5:46

Band members
Sabine Blodwin – vocals
Taka Eliel – harsh vocals, bass
Timo Solonen – guitars
Joonas Siikavirta – guitars
Erna Siikavirta – keyboards
Hanna-Leena Lassila – drums
Elya – cello

Album Review – Dark The Suns / Raven And The Nightsky (2023)

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A three-piece act from Finland will embrace you with their fifth full-length album, taking you on a 50-minute journey through the realms of Death, Gothic and Doom Metal with a strong melodic vein.

Originally founded as a one-man project by Finnish vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mikko Ojala back in 2005, and after some lineup changes through the years plus a seven-year hiatus from 2013 until 2020, the now three-piece Melodic Death/Gothic Metal entity Dark The Suns has just unleashed upon us their fifth studio album, entitled Raven And The Nightsky, the follow-up to their 2020 effort Suru Raivosi Sydämeni Pimeydessä. Overflowing beautiful piano melodies and dark vocals, all carefully crafted by the aforementioned Mikko Ojala on vocals, guitars and drums, Jani Moilanen on the guitars and clean vocals, and Inka Ojala on bass and keyboards, Raven And The Nightsky will take you on a 50-minute journey through the realms of Death, Gothic and Doom Metal with a strong melodic vein highly recommended for admirers of the music by Insomnium, Draconian and Before the Dawn, just to name a few.

The heaviness of the drums by Mikko make a beautiful paradox with the whimsical keys by Inka in the opening tune Adamantine, sounding very detailed, multi-layered, and alternating between more metallic moments and ethereal passages, whereas in Phoenix they blend the more Gothic, obscure music by bands like HIM and Paradise Lost with their Melodic Death Metal sound, displaying a great job done by Mikko and Jani on the guitars. In Kun Aallot Kallioihin Murtuu, or “when the waves break on the rocks” from Finnish, a pounding, sinister intro gradually evolves into another atmospheric feast by the trio led by the delicate keys by Inka, who also delivers sheer heaviness through her low-tuned bass in an amazing fusion of Melodic Death Metal with contemporary Doom Metal; and they keep embellishing the airwaves in Aurora, with Mikko’s deep, darkened growls adding an extra touch of malignancy to the overall result. Then featuring Paavo Laapotti (Before the Dawn) as a guest vocalist, Raven is another solid creation where the guitars by Mikko and Jani walk hand in hand with Inka’s massive bass lines.

The second half of the album begins in a melancholic, pensive mode with the doomed Shadows Upon the Broken Hearts, showcasing sluggish beats, stylish keys and deep, obscure vocals, albeit a bit too generic if compared to the rest of the album. Swans of the Frozen Waters carries a beautiful name for a song, with Mikko and Jani slashing their guitars with tons of feeling and passion while Mikko hammers his drums nonstop in a fantastic display of Melodic Death and Doom Metal; followed by The Sea of Sorrow, perfect for headbanging alone in the dark, with Inka once again adding her share of finesse to the music through her keys while her bass sounds as heavy as it can be. We then face Under the Northern Lights, in the vein of the latest works by Finnish titans Insomnium, blending Death and Doom Metal with an ethereal atmosphere while Mikko steals the spotlight with his Stygian vocals and classic beats. And closing the album the trio offers us all the most obscure, grim of all songs, titled In Mist of the Night, where Blackened Doom elements invade all empty spaces in the air, not to mention the beauty in the guitars by Mikko and Jani is truly outstanding.

Such powerful, pensive and deep album from the always beautiful Finnish scene is available for a full and detailed listen on YouTube and on Spotify, but in order to show your true support and admiration for Dark The Suns you can purchase a copy of the album from their own BandCamp page or by clicking HERE. Also, don’t forget to follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates, and other nice-to-know details about the band. Mikko, Jani and Inka did a beyond stunning job in Raven And The Nightsky, from the album title to its cover, from the opening song to the last second of the closing one, and I’m sure as soon as they realize how much fans of Gothic and Doom Metal love all songs found in the album they’ll keep creating great music for our ears, which means we’ll fortunately never see them on a hiatus again.

Best moments of the album: Adamantine, Kun Aallot Kallioihin Murtuu and Swans of the Frozen Waters.

Worst moments of the album: Shadows Upon the Broken Hearts.

Released in 2023 Inverse Records

Track listing
1. Adamantine 4:37
2. Phoenix 5:07
3. Kun Aallot Kallioihin Murtuu 4:37
4. Aurora 5:54
5. Raven 4:42
6. Shadows Upon the Broken Hearts 4:36
7. Swans of the Frozen Waters 4:05
8. The Sea of Sorrow 5:48
9. Under the Northern Lights 5:24
10. In Mist of the Night 5:16

Band members
Mikko Ojala – vocals, guitars, drums
Jani Moilanen – guitar, clean vocals
Inka Ojala – bass, keyboards

Guest musician
Paavo Laapotti – vocals on “Raven”

Album Review – Swallow The Sun / Moonflowers (2021)

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Jyväskylä, Finland’s own Doom Metal unity returns with another stunning album, offering us all eight beautiful, captivating songs blooming in misery.

Formed in 2000 in Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi, Finland by guitarist Juha Raivio, the five-piece Finnish Melodic Doom/Death Metal outfit Swallow The Sun has just unleashed upon humanity their new opus entitled Moonflowers, the eight in their undisputed career. Currently comprised of Mikko Kotamaki on vocals, Juha Raivio on the guitars and keyboards, Juho Raiha also on the guitars, Matti Honkonen on bass, and Juuso Raatkainen on drums, Swallow The Sun continue to pave the gloomy path of their previous album When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light (inspired by the loss of Juha’s life partner Aleah Stanbridge in 2016), offering fans of the most melodic side of doom eight beautiful, captivating songs in the span of over 52 minutes, being therefore the perfect soundtrack for the darkest days in your life.

The striking opening song Moonflowers Bloom in Misery is absolutely doomed from the very first second, with Mikko already delivering his melancholic, grim vocal lines accompanied by the sluggish beats by Juuso, exploding into a massive feast of Melodic Death and Doom Metal. Then in Enemy we’re treated to beautiful lyrics declaimed by Mikko (“I crawl back to my shadow / From the edge of the light / Deep down into the sea of my own rain sirens / In the eye of the… / Enemy, inside of me / Torn from a trail of light / Grail of serpents lies”) while Juho and Juha’s guitars make an interesting paradox with Juha’s own keys; followed by Woven into Sorrow, a lecture in darkness and sorrow by the band presenting gorgeous, serene guitar lines intertwined with sheer heaviness and whimsical background elements, also featuring guest backing vocals by Antti Hyyrynen from Stam1na. Not only that, t’s impressive how they manage to make their music epic and symphonic without losing their blackened core essence, which is also the case in Keep Your Heart Safe from Me, almost eight minutes of top-of-the-line doom showcasing infernal, headbanging sounds led by Juuso’s drums supported by the low-tuned bass by Matti while also presenting a more cryptic, delicate side of the band.

All Hallows’ Grieve features guest vocals by the stunning Cammie Gilbert (Oceans of Slumber), and she nails it with her soulful vocals (“Before I go, I’ll let you know / My heart was honest, for you / My heart was cruel / You believed / I’m a soul of a ghost to fight for / I believe, I believe, I lost my will to fight for”), resulting in a sensational doom aria, whereas drinking from the fountain of 80’s Gothic and Doom Metal it’s time for the enfolding and somber The Void, where Matti and Juuso once again generate a reverberating ambience with their respective weapons. The Fight of Your Life is another gentle and melancholic composition by Swallow The Sun which despite presenting all elements we love in their music is not as compelling as the rest of the album; and closing the album it’s time for an infernal composition titled This House Has No Home, where the keys by Juha walk hand in hand with both the clean vocals and the demonic roars by Mikko, putting a climatic and dark ending to the album.

In a nutshell, the very pleasant and obscure Moonflowers, which is available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, cements Swallow The Sun’s name as one of the best Doom Metal acts of the past 20 years while at the same time provides admirers of doom with something fresh, leaving us all eager for more of their stunning creations. Hence, don’t forget to follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, and obviously to grab your copy of Moonflowers by clicking HERE. Keep in mind that if you go for the mediabook or boxset edition of the album, it comes with a very beautiful bonus disc with classical versions of all songs of the album recorded at the Sipoo Church in Finland by Trio N O X, comprised of Aino Rautakorpi on violin, Helena Dumell on viola and Annika Furstenborg on cello, as for example their gorgeous rendition of the song All Hallows’ Grieve. And while the moonflowers keep blooming in misery, Swallow The Sun will continue to darken the skies with their classy Doom Metal for at least another 20 years.

Best moments of the album: Moonflowers Bloom in Misery, Woven into Sorrow and All Hallows’ Grieve.

Worst moments of the album: The Fight of Your Life.

Released in 2021 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. Moonflowers Bloom in Misery 6:19
2. Enemy 5:39
3. Woven into Sorrow 7:46
4. Keep Your Heart Safe from Me 7:47
5. All Hallows’ Grieve 5:37
6. The Void 5:39
7. The Fight of Your Life 7:13
8. This House Has No Home 6:40

Limited Edition Mediabook/Boxset bonus disc (Trio N O X plays Moonflowers by Swallow the Sun)
1. Moonflowers Bloom in Misery (classical version) 4:52
2. Enemy (classical version) 3:06
3. Woven into Sorrow (classical version) 4:39
4. Keep Your Heart Safe from Me (classical version) 3:13
5. All Hallows’ Grieve (classical version) 4:58
6. The Void (classical version) 4:01
7. The Fight of Your Life (classical version) 4:16
8. This House Has No Home (classical version) 3:03

Band members
Mikko Kotamaki – vocals
Juha Raivio – guitars, keyboards
Juho Raiha – guitars
Matti Honkonen – bass
Juuso Raatkainen – drums

Guest musicians
Cammie Gilbert – vocals on “All Hallows’ Grieve”
Antti Hyyrynen – backing vocals on “Woven into Sorrow”
Jaani Peuhu – backing vocals
Aino Rautakorpi – violin on all classical versions from the Limited Edition Mediabook/Boxset bonus disc “Trio N O X plays Moonflowers by Swallow the Sun”
Helena Dumell – viola on all classical versions from the Limited Edition Mediabook/Boxset bonus disc “Trio N O X plays Moonflowers by Swallow the Sun”
Annika Furstenborg – cello on all classical versions from the Limited Edition Mediabook/Boxset bonus disc “Trio N O X plays Moonflowers by Swallow the Sun”