| MAIN |
|
SOTAJUMALA - Death Metal Finland |
Woodcut Records | |
|
|
Posted: 2/22/05Reviewed by: Steve Gottlieb Category: Death Metal Released: 2004 Label URL: www.woodcutrecords.com Artist URL: www.sotajumala.com | |
|
| ||
|
Quick linguistics logic lesson: apparently the English term ‘death metal’ translates into Finnish as ‘death metal.’ I know this because of the title of the debut album from Finland’s Sotajumala titled Death Metal Finland. If the band name, and every song on the album, is in Finnish with nary an English word in sight, it stands to reason that the album title is in Finnish as well. Now, I don’t speak Finnish, but I assume that there are individual Finnish words for ‘death’ and ‘metal.’ But those words aren’t used in the album title. So, it further stands to reason that ‘death metal,’ as a phrase, translates as something different than the individual words ‘death’ and ‘metal’ and that the Finnish translation is ‘death metal.’ Ok, ok, so I’m not going to become a logic professor at the local university anytime soon. But, given that all the song titles and lyrics are in Finnish, there’s not much to write about here. Except for the music: the band plays old school death metal. It’s brutal and grinding, with cookie monster vocals that would make Glen Benton proud (interestingly, the vocalist’s name is actually a three-digit number, “105.” Go figure). Musically, these guys are closer to mid-period Morbid Angel, and with very fluid, listenable solos. In fact, it’s the solos that make this a semi-interesting listen for non-death metal fans, since there’s just about zero melody on the album’s 11 tracks. The drumming is fast and furious, with plenty of blastbeats, and while the drummer is competent, he’s no Phil Sandoval. Nonetheless, if you’re a fan of Morbid Angel, or 90’s American death metal in general, Death Metal Finland should be right up your alley. Now about that cover art: it’s a very powerful image, the Panzer tank rumbling through the forest of burnt-out tree trunks, crushing everything in its path. Only one problem, though. Does Finland even have a tank?
The Bloody Truth: This is brutal, intense death metal and is recommended for fans of that style only.
| ||
]
