Mother Susurrus

Album Title: 
Maahaavaa
Release Date: 
Friday, November 1, 2013
Distribution: 
Review Type: 

Like with the Baxter Stockman album, Mother Susurrus' Maahaava was already released on vinyl back in March 2013, and has now found its way onto CD. The difference is, colleague Cosmicmasseur already made a review on the vinyl release, which is a good read if you want to delve deeper into the musical aspect of this band. However, my colleague did forget the historical side of things, so why don't I bring you that, eh?

Well, the band (the line-up originally consisting of lead singer LK, guitarists VP and JM – the latter replaced in 2010 by JL, bassist PR – replaced in 2011 by TO, and drummer TM; PR stands for P. Rämänen, whom was and still is active with Dark Buddha Rising) is from Tampere, in the South-West of Finland, where they formed in 2008. 2010 saw the band come out with their self-titled EP, which (containing only 2 songs, but with a total length of 32 ½ minutes) already garnered positive reactions from fans and media alike. Following the release up with several shows, the band eventually went into writing sessions for a full-length album, and along the way found themselves coming in touch with Ektro Records, which most definitely is an ideal home for the band's spaced-out type of music!

With recording and mixing done at Black Floyd's Analogiäänipaga (meaning completely analogically!), the band now returns with their five-track full-length (just over 48 minutes) debut, which has already garnered positive reviews (including from my colleague) with however some erroneous references, at least to my taste. First of all however, I would invite you to listen to some of the band's music...or rather, you could listen to it all, because the EP is posted at the band's Bandcamp page (as well as the EP, which should be down-loadable for free), and I've actually found some as yet unreleased songs at the band's SoundCloud page (you can find the links to those at the band's own (www.) mothersusurrus.com (where you'll also find links to the band's facebook page, and the label's site – in fact, those links are àll you'll find there). You see, some reviewers refer to Neurosis, High On Fire, and Isis (the latter reference by my colleague), but this band actually has no Hardcore, or for that matter Post-Hardcore influences what-so-ever! The end result may be somewhat similar sounding, but personally I find there's still quite some differences when a band playing a Doom laden Sludge/ Drone rather takes its additional influences from Psych Rock! “Hawkwind for the new generation” is a citation from a review at metalsuck.net, and although that band of course frequently goes outside the pure guitar-oriented sound by throwing in synth sounds, that comparison actually holds out best! By the way, there's supposed to be a guest appearance by one Pekko Käppi on the jouhikko (also known as jouhikantele of jouhikannel, is is a sort of lyre which is to be played with a bow, known specifically from Finland and Karelia, the Russian region closest to Finland).

Great stuff this, and should I have been able to listen to the album a bit more, I might even have added Maahaavaa to my 2013 year-lists!

92/100