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Album Review – Voidfallen / The Atlas of Spiritual Apocalypse (2021)

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This young and restless Melodic Death Metal band from Finland comes ripping with their debut full-length album, dealing with the narrowness of the human mind.

Mixed by Juhamatti Kauppinen at Shedstudios, mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox, and displaying a sinister artwork by Petri Inkinen from Guilty Visuals, The Atlas of Spiritual Apocalypse is the awesome debut album by Helsinki, Finland-based Melodic Death Metal entity Voidfallen, a young but quickly acknowledged band formed in 2019 and currently comprised of Tommi Kangaskortet on vocals, Henri Vuorenmaa and Aleksi Tossavainen on the guitars, Lauri Myllylä on bass and Mika Lumijärvi on drums. Consisting of nine independent songs which still form the album’s own entirety, The Atlas of Spiritual Apocalypse deals with the narrowness of the human mind, the distress caused by that and the moral confrontations that follow, placing it among the must-listen Melodic Death Metal albums of the year and, therefore, representing a beyond solid step in the band’s up-and-coming career.

The sinister and cinematic intro The Atlas of Spiritual Apocalypse invites us all to join Voidfallen in their Melodic Death Metal realm to the sound of Remnants of the Heart, where Henri and Aleksi begin slashing their axes supported by the classic beats by Mika while Tommi roars manically nonstop; whereas The Hollows is even more demented than its predecessor thanks to the fulminating job done by Mika on drums, while Lauri hammers his bass mercilessly providing the band’s guitar duo all they need to shine with their riffage. Then after a serene start everything explodes into sheer savagery in The Daughters, a solid Melodic Death Metal tune spearheaded by the infernal roars by Tommi, and it’s time to bang your head like a beast in From Souls to Embers, featuring guest clean vocals by Inka Inkinen, where epic, imposing background elements elevate their core Melodic Death Metal to a whole new level.

From Embers to Fall, this time with guest clean vocals by Mikko Heikkilä (Dawn of Solace, Kaunis Kuolematon), is another rumbling, pounding creation by Voidfallen where the band’s guitar duo is on fire with their harmonious but at the same time visceral riffs; followed by the awesome Sui Generis, showcasing classy lyrics growled by Tommi (“Rise, the faithless kind and behold, your new king arrived / Now bow to me you peasants of mine / And so another chapter of this madness unfolds / Where man thinks he’s a god and the god’s a hero / Like the only star in the sky / The brightest of lights / Epitome of ego / Sui generis”) while his bandmates kick some ass with their sonic weapons in a powerful display of the band’s epic and heavy music. Featuring guest Vesa Salovaara (Ephemerald, Vorna) on vocals, The Slaves of the Echo Chambers is the second to last blast of aggressiveness with the band’s trademark melodic twist where Mika and Lauri make the earth shake with their respective beats and bass punches; and lastly, Symphonic Black Metal elements spice up the band’s sound in Seen Through Ice, allowing Tommi to deliver deeper, more demonic growls accompanied by the headbanging riffs by Henri and Aleksi.

The ruthless and extremely talented guys from Voidfallen are waiting for you on Facebook, on Instagram and on YouTube with more of their heavy and caustic music, news, tour dates and so on, and if you want to show them all your support and admiration you can stream The Atlas of Spiritual Apocalypse in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course purchase the album from their own BandCamp page as well as from Record Shop X or from Apple Music. Finland has always been an endless source of top-of-the-line Melodic Death Metal, and Voidfallen are no exception to that, taking the genre to new heigths with their darker-than-usual approach and visuals, and leaving us really curious to see what’s next in their aggressive and melodic path.

Best moments of the album: From Souls to Embers, Sui Generis and The Slaves of the Echo Chambers.

Worst moments of the album: From Embers to Fall.

Released in 2021 Inverse Records

Track listing
1. The Atlas of Spiritual Apocalypse 1:11
2. Remnants of the Heart 4:04
3. The Hollows 4:16
4. The Daughters 6:02
5. From Souls to Embers 5:21
6. From Embers to Fall 5:21
7. Sui Generis 4:03
8. The Slaves of the Echo Chambers 5:00
9. Seen Through Ice 5:47

Band members
Tommi Kangaskortet – vocals
Henri Vuorenmaa – guitars
Aleksi Tossavainen – guitars
Lauri Myllylä – bass
Mika Lumijärvi – drums

Guest musicians
Vesa Salovaara – clean vocals on “The Slaves of the Echo Chambers”
Mikko Heikkilä – clean vocals on “From Embers to Fall”
Inka Inkinen – clean vocals on “From Souls to Embers”

Album Review – Vorna / Ei Valo Minua Seuraa (2015)

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A stunning expedition through the depths of human mind, crafted by proficient Finnish metallers whom no light follows.

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vorna_cover640As I stated earlier this year in the review for the self-titled debut album by Stoner/Progressive Metal band Sata Kaskelottia, and also in the review for the 2005 classic Metallitotuus, by Power Metal band Teräsbetoni, anytime I receive material from a band from the land of ice and snow that’s sung in their mother tongue I get quite excited about what I’m about to listen to. It couldn’t be any different with Finnish Black/Pagan Metal orchestra Vorna (named after a character from the Finnish folklore), who have just release their second full-length album, an incredible full-bodied expedition through the depths of human mind entitled Ei Valo Minua Seuraa (or “No Light Follows Me”, in English).

Dealing with themes like nature, myths and struggles of mind, this ascendant six-piece group formed in 2008 in Tampere, Finland are an exquisite treat for all fans of Black, Pagan and Folk Metal, and their new album will blow your mind no matter how much you love (or even hate) those subgenres of metal music. From its minimalistic and gorgeous artwork, designed by Jarno Lahti (KAAMOS Illustration & Design Studio), to its intricate passages and somber atmosphere, Ei Valo Minua Seuraa offers all metalheads a memorable feast of darkness, all spiced up by the uniqueness of the Finnish language, of course.

The name chosen for the album is already legitimated by its opening track, the pleasant and dark Harmaudesta (“Away from Grey”), where the orchestrations blend perfectly with the harsh vocals by Vesa Salovaara, while the obscure keyboard notes by Saku Myyryläinen, together with the precise drumming by Mikael Vanninen, boost the song’s impact significantly. In Jälkemme (“Heritage”), a sense of epicness emanates through its soaring ambience, inducing a strong feeling that the battle is about to begin. In addition to that, Arttu Järvisalo and Henri Lammintausta do an excellent job with their flaming guitars by adding elements of Black and Viking Metal to their riffs.

vorna_promophoto_2015Their symphony of darkness goes on with a fusion of Melodic Black Metal and the band’s core Pagan Metal in Itsetön (“Soul Shriven”), a hellish waltz flawlessly crafted by the entire band until everything morphs into a melancholic ending; whereas Sieluni Varjossa (“In the Nightside of Self”) presents a sharper sonority thanks to the beats by Mikael and to the solid and resonant bass lines by Niilo Könönen. Moreover, the second half of the song is pure obscurity, perfect for afflicting your soul before the serene Vaipunut (“Of Life Descended”) arises full of melancholy and sorrow. It’s almost like a Dark Metal ballad, very interesting and gripping, showcasing the band’s versatility and Vesa’s clean vocals, which sound as powerful as his guttural.

All that sorrow keeps flowing in the amazing Yksin (“Alone”), with Saku leading Vorna’s metallic orchestra while Arttu and Henri continue to darken the music with their riffs, turning this song not only into the best of all tracks but, more important than that, into a beautiful aria of solitude, fear and sadness. And Vorna lead the listener to one final fight in Hiljaiset Rauniot (“Silent Ruins”), an emotive and razor-sharp chant with an inspiring intro and atmospheric keyboards, and where you can feel death is imminent through both the growls and clean vocals by Vesa, efficiently ending such a distinct album.

This proficient Finnish orchestra can be reached at their official Facebook page and YouTube channel, and their Stygian concerto Ei Valo Minua Seuraa can be purchased through the Inverse Store, Record Shop X or CDON.COM. Indeed no light follows Vorna, but that doesn’t mean their music is dull or unreverberant. Quite the contrary, Ei Valo Minua Seuraa is doubtless one of the brightest releases of the year.

Best moments of the album: Jälkemme, Vaipunut and Yksin.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2015 Inverse Records

Track listing
1. Harmaudesta 3:57
2. Jälkemme 7:37
3. Itsetön 8:07
4. Sieluni Varjossa 6:58
5. Vaipunut 3:47
6. Yksin 6:40
7. Hiljaiset Rauniot 8:48

Band members
Vesa Salovaara – vocals
Arttu Järvisalo – guitars
Henri Lammintausta – guitars
Niilo Könönen – bass
Saku Myyryläinen – keyboards
Mikael Vanninen – drums