Stone
No Anaesthesia!

Scandinavia can be considered the cradle of extreme European metal, and today, in particular, the Finnish scene is very vibrant and has reached the popularity of neighboring Sweden and Norway. The same cannot be said for the 1980s when the bands around were decidedly few and relegated to the deepest underground (with the exception of the Tarot of the Hietala brothers). In this context, around 1985, young Roope Latvala (guitar) and Janne Joutsenniemi (bass and vocals) decided to form a heavy metal band called Cross of Iron, which later (and definitively) changed its name to Stone with the arrival of drummer Pekka Kasari and guitarist Jiri Jalkanen.

Initially devoted to classic metal, the band gained popularity by changing style and orienting towards speed/thrash, and thanks to two promising demos, they secured a contract with the record label Megamania with which they released their self-titled debut in 1988 and the following year the reviewed "No Anaesthesia!".

The album picks up the thrash coordinates shown in the debut and evolves them towards more technical horizons with a neoclassical flavor, shaping a very personal sound that does not seem derivative, despite the clear Bay Area influences, and it doesn’t lose any of the sonic impact compared to the more direct style of its predecessor. The album flows smoothly thanks to the absence of fillers and the alternation of intense tracks, like the opener "Sweet Dreams", with more considered and paced ones, among which certainly the ten-minute title track, whose title was inspired by the famous "(Anaesthesia) Pulling Teeth" composed by the unforgettable Cliff Burton. The two guitarists offer a series of very effective riffs and high-class solos in great quantity, while the bassist’s gruff voice, which one might daringly describe as a cross between Chuck Billy and Hansi Kürsch’s vocals, adds brutality and aggression to the sound, even spilling over into a cavernous growl on some occasions. The production is very good and well-crafted (something not at all taken for granted for an eighties thrash record) and further enhances the work.

In conclusion, it can be said that this album definitely belongs to that sizeable group of late-eighties thrash albums that deserved much more fame and consideration from enthusiasts and stands out also as it represents one of the first valid works produced in Finland. Unfortunately, as is well known, the thrash metal movement collapsed in the early nineties and Stone was no exception; in fact, after two more excellent albums ("Colours" and "Emotional Playground") more inclined towards progressive, they disbanded in 1991. The group's fame at home, however, allowed the drummer to later join Amorphis, while Latvala continued to play with various bands and side projects and is currently a part of Children Of Bodom.