I was enormously surprised by last year’s full length Uljas Uusi Maailma, Kuolemanlaakso’s debut for Svart Records. This new material was written and recorded under the same constellation and under the same moon, with producer / engineer Victor Santura taking care of the studio duties once more. And it was a correct decision to have all this stuff released as two different releases, the full album and this EP (on CD and vinyl, in both cases strictly limited). As a matter of fact, this stuff sort of stands for a natural / logical transition / transmission in between the debut and the upcoming full length, Tulijoutsen (which I will review in a very near future, as soon as I have the time to experience this material too).
The main difference in between this release and the debut might be the average length of the songs, + the ‘situation’ behind it. This stuff might sound less epic, but more straight-forward when it comes to the Doom-laden power. It might sound little more catchy (but luckily not of the pulpy kind, believe me; though, the Leskinen-cover is the most ‘popular’-sounding thing the band did to date), and the general Rock-attitude is more distinct (once again, ‘Rock’ does not mean some pulpy ‘let’s-have-some-joy’-attitude).
Still this band creates a unique symbiosis of pretty-faced Doom Metal and ugly-faced melodic Death Metal (including an injection of Black-edged morbidity; listen for example to Tulenväki and share my arousal), crossing the borders of any European country (for it could have been created by an act from the U.K., Sweden, Holland, Norway, Belgium, Germany or, if you want to, San Marino or Vatican City too), penetrating the whole with epic, symphonic and / or atmospheric elements. And what’s more, the quasi-perfect equilibrium in between an old styled approach and a modern touch sounds so organic…
I am really looking forward to enjoy the upcoming second full length! Are you too?...