Viikate
Unholan Urut

Can folk dance hall with "polka" rhythms blend with a fiercely metallic sound? For the Finnish quartet, the answer is certainly affirmative.

The latest effort of the Nordic combo continues the saga of albums steeped in atmospheres reminiscent of Finnish "iskelma" (popular music), skillfully supported by solid, full-bodied guitar work, an extravagant union between very Sabbathian riffing and country-rock inspired leads.

The skilled craftsmen of Viikate offer us nine engaging tracks, rhythmically agile, a constant effusion of notes between the subtle-melancholic and the angry-energetic where the vocals stand out as a narrative statue of mysterious tales. The vocals indeed constitute the element of contrast with the rest of the metallic panorama of many famous compatriots, also thanks to the use of the national language, which perfectly fits the proposal of our band. The opening triptych leaves you stunned with immediacy and sense of melody, in continuous progression towards easily catchy folk-like refrains supported by straightforward, no-frills guitar work that makes harmonic essentialism its strength.

"Unholan Urut," "Pohjoista Viljaa" and "Nämä Herrasmiehet" indeed represent the soul of the band, gently leaning towards shadowy and nostalgic arpeggios but never forgetting the granitic hard-rock impact, stabbing the auditory pavilions with abrasive riffs and fast rhythms. However, be careful not to confuse them with other compatriots like Teräsbetoni or Ensiferum; here, the stereotypical metallic attitude is replaced by a sincere interest in popular music, eschewing boisterous-exaggerated concepts that appear pompous and out of place in the artists I've mentioned.

Among the following tracks, I feel I must mention the anthemic "Ajakaa", a perfect fusion between impacting guitars and a biting chorus, and the radio-friendly "Tie" with folk-rock textures enriched, once again, by a full-bodied, impactful vocal performance, heartfelt narration loaded with originality. The closure relies on the sweetness of "He eivät hengita", a soft ballad reminiscent of gloomy October nights, entirely suspended between the relentless arpeggio of the six-string and a deep voice with seductive exoticism.

An album for fine palates that awakens the genuine love for the musical traditions of one's lands, produced with class and certainly not intended for the masses of fans with "easy mugs". Culture and intelligence for a sonic patchwork outside the norms.

For the few.