Based on a short story written by bassist and vocalist Niilo Sevänen, “inspired” by the Torsåker witch trials in 17th century Sweden, this is the 9th album by the Finnish quintet and 4 years since their last offering. As is to be expected, the music is filled with melancholic melodies and righteous rage, but delivered with the finesse and precision that’s to be expected by the 26 year veterans.
The album opens with the title track “1696” and the three guitarists Jani Liimatainen, Markus Vanhala and Ville Friman all get a chance to show their virtuosity as Markus Hirvonen’s drums go from gentle time keeping to manic blasting with the growls going form slow and whispered to ferociously spat out at speed.
Slightly slower, with a doom death feel to it, “White Christ” has guest vocals by Sakis Tolis on it which blend exceptionally well with Niilo’s to complement rather than bring a completely different flavour to the song.
Johanna Kurkela’s exquisite vocalisations on “Godforsaken” have a forlorn haunted quality about them that are a perfect undercurrent for the aggression of the guitars and drums and Niilo’s growls, as the song works its way through numerous tempo changes and crescendos.
The video for “Lilian” adds an extra twist to the track, as the melody works side by side with the heavier guitars by adding scenic visuals to one of the shortest songs on the album.
“Starless Paths” has the attack of old school back metal, but gets reigned in for epic lead breaks where the guitars have an orchestral quality to their delivery, even when heavily distorted.
The melodic guitar playing throughout “The Witch Hunter” lends itself to the clean vocals, while the growled whispers become roars as the drumming increases in intensity but are drowned out by the clean vocals once more.
A complete palette cleanser, “The Unrest” is beautiful in its acoustic simplicity, with whispered and clean vocals over the shakers used to keep tempo.
The album concludes with “The Rapids”, where the opening piano is overcome by the flurry of guitars and blasted drums, before they fade back to let the piano through before all hell breaks loose where the growls and driving rhythm take the melody to a new level.
They continue story on the EP ‘Songs of the Dusk’ which features three more songs delving further in the accompanying novella. But the EP is yet to be released and shall be eagerly anticipated.
Some albums are a real pleasure to listen to, and this is certainly one of them. Now to make time to read the novella itself.
(8/10 Marco Gaminara)
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