I often ponder the madness of subgenres and micro genres in music. I love to discuss and argue them with my son in law George who also writes for Ave Noctum. A blastbeat paired with a sub drop in a different place can move an act from one genre to another before the average person can even type “gatekeep”. In 2024 there appears to be more “post” in descriptions than the Royal Mail can fraudulently charge innocent people for. In these modern (or is it post-modern?) times it is often easier to look at the root genre – rather like an unevolved Pokemon to see the beast the latest incarnation has mutated into.
For this review of Finland’s Oranssi Pazuzu’s latest offering it is of course Black Metal that lie at the bands core. Anyone who has listened to their previous outings – especially 2020’s brilliant Metarin Kynsi , will know what to expect. The band have been described as Psych Black metal, Prog Black Metal and even Math Black.
Wasp in a jar church burning and gurning this is not.
However Muuntautuja does not fit entirely with the previous descriptions either. This album, like so many released in the world of so called “extremity” in the last year or so draws influence from so many genres it would be crazy to name them. When this happens I suggest that the band become their own sub-genre.
Within the album there is of course Black Metal. Muuntautuja is a very dark, mystical sounding album. At times it reminded me of Thorns with Snorre’s astronomical stylings but there are strong jazz and hip hop influences too. The title track pairs a laidback breakbeat with electronica and a heavily distorted vocal that sounds like it could come from the hellscape in Event Horizon. Hautatuuli, meanwhile gives off E-L-P vibes with a deliciously languid jazz drum refrain that could possibly send the most KVLTist scurrying back to their basement. The lyrics are a whispered incantation that manage to simultaneously sound ice cool and creepy as fuck.
The noise elements on this release are strong like a bull. Electronica, heavy bass and harsh vocals combine with bright piano parts to deliver a dense and blistering soundscape – check out Valotus with its throbbing machine heartbeat and off kilter drum section that sounds like it is being ground out of a gigantic city crushing doomsday device. The penultimate track Ikikaarme is like a Krishna chant beamed through a black hole. The breakbeat that sits at its beginning is mesmerising and the electronics that fade in and out remind me of Wailing Wall from The Cure’s experimental The Top. Just as I am hypnotised thinking I have found my groove for ten minutes brass samples rush in alongside a harsher vocal and then a John Carpenter style piano riff. My head is spinning (hey they are called Pazuzu after all). There is so much going on in each track but it is easy to hear each separate part and decide which path your ears and brain want to go down.
Final track Vieriva Usva could be straight out of an Argento movie – big Goblin vibe here. I also get images of the Tall Man coming to my head so the 70’s avant-garde horror theme is definitely evident.
This album is a lot to take in. There is so much to hear, and so much to follow and react to. Oranssi Pazuzu make the journey enjoyable though. This is not a difficult album to listen to. It is a delight of many layers that compliment your intelligence and they invite you to explore the tracks with them rather than berate you as unworthy.
Far out man!
(9/10 Matt Mason)
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