Showing posts with label Seremonia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seremonia. Show all posts

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Seremonia - Ihminen (album review)

Cover artwork by Seppo Kekäläinen.
Dead leaves scrape a nervous bone-dance across the splintered pavement in the chill breeze of night.  You adjust your collar as icy fingers tease the back of your neck.  You shudder.  Your pace quickens through the back alley as you check over your shoulder.  Nothing there.  You sigh in relief, turning your head back around as the hairs of your body begin to stand on end.  This is part of your fight or flight response, your body anticipating action, only it's too late.  The eerie eyed children are standing in front of you, blocking your path.  They have returned and this time they don't mean to menace you, they mean to destroy you.  This is Seremonia 2: the sequel.

On their second LP, Finnish quintet Seremonia is more direct, more to the point.  Where their self-titled debut wallowed in an anticipatory atmosphere, 'Ihminen' (Man or Human Being) is participatory, it delivers the coup de grace.  The dark and creepy vibes felt on the debut still show up on the follow-up, though not as often, like children as they grow up.  No, those creepy children staring up into bedroom windows on midnight streets from 'Seremonia'  [see the review here] have hit their teenage years and have become lost in their older siblings' punk records.

'Ihminen' is also a more substantial record than the first, tipping the scales at 11 songs and 42 minutes.  The first was a brisk, 10 song, 31 minute wham-bam affair that just never felt like enough.  It was like a Seinfeld episode where the band had to get in and get out as fast as possible while making as strong an impression as they could.  The songs on 'Ihminen' hang around a bit more and make merry.  It just so happens that Seremonia's idea of making merry pretty much resembles playfully popping eyeballs.  The opening riff of "Noitamestari" is like a declaration, the choppy, punky riff erupts like an electric needle in the eye of anybody expecting a dark and creepy melody.  I'm getting dangerously close to overstating the effect because this side of the band has always been nascent, though slow enough to disguise these leanings as doom.  The fact that this makes the album's "starting lineup" gives it the feel of a declaration.  And it's not just here, these sped-up punk leanings are apparent throughout the record.  It's somewhat ironic then that the songs on this album are so much bulkier than those on the self-titled.

Seremonia isn't content to simply punk it up from front to back on their sophomore album.  There's a host of styles on display, there's straight doom ["Itsemurhaaja"], folky moments ["Itsemurhaaja II"], the band's trademark creepy rock ["Hallava Hevonen" and "Ihminen"] and a Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd-ian track that takes the mood and elements of "Interstellar Overdrive" and crafts them into a more traditional song, and not just any song, but one of the standout tracks on the album ["Painajaisten Maa"].  The coming together of these styles with the emphasis on more uptempo numbers lends 'Ihminen' a strong Retro Rock flavor.  Finland has a few Retro Rock bands of their own, Dryasdust and Vinum Sabbatum among the best (and two of the best in the whole region of any style), Seremonia's latest album slots nicely into the category.  The lead-off single, released as a 7" single earlier in the year, "Ovi" is one of the punkier tracks on the album, but also has much of this Retro Rock appeal, as does it's follow-up on the album "Suuri Valkeus".  Seremonia's take on the sub-sub genre is tinted through the paisley colored lens of the sixties as opposed to the more typical hard rocking seventies stance taken by most bands in the field.

Finns are the life of the musical party.  Those nutty characters are always doing their own thing.  Seremonia is one of the nuttiest of them all.  On their second album, they seem to have settled down a little, adopting to a more traditional heavy rock sound, laying low on the highly suggestive atmospherics of their debut.  Perhaps this change was brought about to inject more energy into their live shows, I wouldn't know.  Either way, the change is a positive one, because the band hasn't abandoned their creepy side altogether.  Like creepy children, they have retained their familiar identity while adding layers and elements of a developing personality to become creepy teens and thus, Seremonia have turned in a hit sequel.

Highlights include: "Ovi" and "Ihminen"

Rating: 4.5/5



Tracklist:
1). Noitamestari (2:07)
2). Itsemurhaaja (5:27)
3). Ovi (2:50)
4). Suuri Valkeus (2:44)
5). Painajaisten Maa (7:16)
6). Luonto Kostaa (3:45)
7). Ihminen (3:32)
8). Itsemurhaaja II (3:36)
9). Vastaus Rukouksiisi (2:10)
10). Tähtien Takaa (4:11)
11). Hallava Hevonen (5:05)
Total Run Time: 42:38

Noora Federley - vocals
Teemu Markkula - guitar
Ville Pirinen - guitar
Erno Taipale - drums, flute
Ilkka Vekka - bass

From: Finland

Genre: Psychedelic, Doom, Hard Rock, Retro Rock, Punk

Reminds me of: Dryasdust, Pink Floyd

Release Date: October 18, 2013

Seremonia on facebook

GET IT HERE

You can also find 'Ihminen' on itunes.

Saturday, 12 October 2013

Hour of Power 10/12/13 (playlist)



  1. Mindless Ones (Monster Magnet / Last Patrol) 2013
  2. Traveller's Lament (Old Man Wizard / Unfavorable) 2013
  3. Ovi [live at Roadburn] (Seremonia / Ihminen) 2013
  4. Curse the Shadows (Pale Divine / demo) 2013
  5. Liberty in Death (Noctum / Final Sacrifice) 2013
  6. The Bringer of Light (Doublestone / Wingmakers) 2013
  7. A Ride in the Funhouse (Blood Red Water / All the Ills of Mankind) 2013
  8. Witch Queen (Yidhra / Hexed) 2013
  9. Spines (Sumeru / ST EP) 2013
  10. Hoe Smoke & Sasafrass (Bubble Puppy / A Gathering of Promises) 1969
  11. Snowchild (Kings of Koch / digital single) 2013
  12. Song for the End (Blizaro / demo) 2013
  13. Bark at the Moon (Ozzy Osbourne / Bark at the Moon) 1983 'classic clip'

Thursday, 27 December 2012

2012 Chronicle (Year in review) part 9 - Best of September

September 1 - Annimal Machine (ST EP)

September 1 - Voltron (Kaventsmann)

September 3 - Alunah (White Hoarhound)

September 4 - GOYA (Demo) - Arizona trio Goya don't do the desert rock thing, they opt for fuzzy doom in the style of Electric Wizard or Windhand.  The compositions and overall sound on their debut release are more highly developed and mature than a lot of demos, at least for the style they play.  Get it here and name your own price.  Highlights include "God Lie" and "Blackfire".  Rating 4.5/5

September 7 - Ice Dragon (Greyblackfalconhawk)

September 11 - ALTAR OF OBLIVION (Grand Gesture of Defiance) - Danish five piece epic doomers Altar of Oblivion scored a pair of number one songs on the Doom Charts by crafting incredibly catchy hooks sung epicly and memorably by vocalist Mik “Meister der Töne” Mentor.  Get it here.  Highlights include "Where Darkness Is Light" and "The Graveyard Of Broken Dreams".  Rating 4/5

September 11 - Beastwars (ST)

September 11 - THE GRAVIATORS (Evil Deeds) - Swedish four-piece The Graviators play at just the right tempo and hit all the right notes on their second album.  The band energetically crunch and bash their way through 10 memorable songs with great big hooks.  Get it here.  Highlights include "A Different Moon" and "Morning Star".  Rating 4.5/5

September 11 - Orchid (Heretic EP)

September 12 - THE BRIMSTONE DAYS (On A Monday Too Early To Tell) - Malmo, Sweden based three-piece The Brimstone Days are a high energy, no-nonsense, back-to-basics rock & roll band.  On their second album they bang off 14 killer songs in 48 satisfying minutes with hardly a detour into ballad country.  These guys get straight to the point and stay on track.  Find it here.  Highlights include "Same Old Story" and "I Need Soul".  Rating 4.5/5

September 13 - Saint Vitus (Scion AV Presents: Saint Vitus Live)

September 14 - SEREMONIA (ST) - Finnish quartet Seremonia's debut album is a short but super creepy collection of 10 tracks, sung hauntingly and mysteriously (to non-Finnish speakers) by vocalist Noora Federley in the band's native language.  It's the soundtrack to a human sacrifice conducted by children with eyes that are unsettlingly knowing, world-weary and wise.  Get it here. Highlights include "Rock'n'rollin Maailma" and "Uhrijuhla".  Rating 4.5/5

September 18 - DOWN (Down IV Part I: The Purple EP) - Superstar NOLA-based southern rockers Down returned after a five year absence and unleashed their most different sounding release to date.  Six songs of crushing traditional doom.  Obviously, it got a lot of mixed reviews, but I like it, I think all six songs are good.  Get it here. Highlights include "The Misfortune Teller" and "Witchtripper".  Rating 4.5/5

September 18 - El Yeti (ST Demo)

September 18 - Ufomammut (ORO - Opus Alter)

September 21 - Spectral Haze (Demo)

September 23 - BLUE ASIDE (The Moles of a Dying Race) - Boston proggers Blue Aside released maybe my favorite prog album of 2012.  It's an album that I like more and more with each subsequent listen.  Cold landscapes and an ever-present feeling of paranoia pervade this album.  Read my review.  Get it here.  Highlights include "The Ice Mammoth" and "The Moles of a Dying Race, Part I".  Rating 4.5/5

September 24 - Garuda (Labyrinths in Stone)

September 25 - SKANSKA MORD (Paths to Charon) - What can be said about this album.  For my money, it's the best thing put out by Small Stone this year.  Just a stupendously solid album, each song has its own feel and is incredibly hooky.  This is the second album by this Swedish quintet who seem to take the Seattle grunge sound of the 90s and dip it into the waters of 70s hard rock all while remaining individualistic and true to their own vision.  No matter how much time passes by (mind, it's only been a couple months), I find myself going back to this album over and over again.  Get it here.  Highlights include "Lord of Space and Time" and "Dark Caves Of Our Mind".  Rating 4.5/5

September 25 - WITCHCRAFT (Legend) - After jettisoning most of the band Magnus Pelander and Witchcraft returned after a five year absence of their own.  The album featured a much different sound than that which made the Swedes legends in the 'retro rock' genre.  It featured an updated take on the sound, and it was for this reason that it took fans a while to finally catch on to the merits of this album.  There are so many highlights on this album they can't all be mentioned, but like Graveyard's latest offering, among others, it's an often politically charged, angrier album.  Get it here.  Highlights include "It's Not Because Of You" and "An Alternative To Freedom".  Rating 4.5/5

September 28 - Bloody Hammers (ST)

September 28 - HEAT (Old Sparky) - This five-piece German super group have one of the most authentically 70s sounds out there.  One could easily play "Warhead" and convince a gullible friend that is, in fact, one of the best songs from the 70s.  Which it kind of is.  Read my original review of this album.  Get the album here.  Also, check this out, pretty cool, no?  Highlights include "Warhead" and "Old Sparky".  Rating 5/5

September 28 - MAMONT (Passing Through the Mastery Door) - This is one of those albums that I like more each time I listen to it.  This stomping, psychedelic stoner four-piece from Sweden have a very unique sound that only becomes more addictive with each subsequent listen.  Read my review here.  Get the album here.  Highlights include "The Secret of the Owl" and "Satans Fasoner".  Rating 4/5

September 28 - Wizard Smoke (The Tickler)

September 29 - MOUNT FUJI (ST) - If you've been following this blog for a while, it's obvious by now that I'm a huge fan of Mount Fuji and their perfect blend of  grunge rock and Pantera style groove metal.  This German quartet's debut full-length release is just one highlight song after another.  Honest, heavy, at times funky and always jaw dropping.  It turns out they have personality to match the music.  Read my recent interview with the band here.  Read my review of Mount Fuji here.  Pay what you want on Bandcamp here.  Visit them on Facebook.  Highlights include "Colossus" and "Head on Fire".  Rating 4.5/5

Best Album From September 2012:
'Paths To Charon' by SKANSKA MORD

Best Song From September 2012:
"Warhead" by HEAT

Saturday, 24 November 2012

Weekly Mailbag for 11/19/12 - 11/23/12

A look at what came in the mail this week with quickie reviews ...

Last week was kind of slow for discovering new music and I kind of over compensated for it on the weekend by catching up on some older stuff that I missed.  Then I found a bunch of new stuff that I had missed and more stuff came in the mail than I had originally anticipated.  So this week I was completely awash in new music.  In addition some labels and bands have started to send me stuff that wasn't even on my radar (which I thank them profusely for) so now I'm pretty backed up.  Then to top it all off, I got flooded with CDs in the mail way later in the week than I would have liked.  Some of these discs I haven't been able to get to yet, so some of the 'reviews' aren't exactly reviews as much as 'notes', but it's been a great week for music here and a great week for Paranoid Hitsophrenic (check out my interview with ICHABOD) ...

Abrahma - Through the Dusty Paths of Our Lives - One of a trio of Small Stone albums that came in all on the same day, discovering this album has been a true pleasure.  The long Vodun suite comprising 8 tracks and some 30 minutes is a mini album within an album and is a real highlight but the non Vodun suite tracks are just as good and stand on their own.  Highlights include "Vodun pt. 2: I, Zombie" and "Big Black Cloud". Rating - 4.5/5

Arkham Witch - Legions of the Deep - I discovered this terrific band on Youtube quite a while ago and spent months trying to track down a copy of their debut album 'On Crom's Mountain'.  Luckily, I no longer needed to do so immediately as news came down they were releasing a brand new album.  I pre-ordered this sucker without hearing a note of it because I had faith in this band and after what felt like forever, it finally arrived in the mail on Monday.  Review to follow.  Highlights include "Infernal Machine" and "On a Horse Called Vengeance". Rating - 4/5

Barclay James Harvest - Their First Album - "Taking Some Time On" was a song I discovered while grasping for some new musical vistas and I decided to check out some prog stuff.  I remember this was at the same time "Electric Worry" was out and those songs were next to each other on a playlist.  This album is wimpy in places but the bonus tracks on this deluxe edition more than make up for any dis-appointment Highlights include "Taking Some Time On" and "Night". Rating - 4/5


Black Label Society - Stronger Than Death - I remember when this one came out.  I heard the song "Counterfeit God" on a 'Brave Words, Bloody Knuckles' compilation and I thought it was a great song.  Fortunately so did a lot of my metalhead friends and so I never really had to buy the CD at the time because it was another of those ones that was just 'around'.  The same went for their first album.  To me they are both classics.

Black Sabbath - ST (Deluxe Expanded Edition) - In Canada, for some reason, we have a really crappy audio quality, 5-track version of the album on CD where certain tracks are stuck together and there's no "Wicked World", so it was high time to upgrade.  So of course I was going to opt for the 2 disc deluxe edition.  Also comes with great liner notes and rare photos which is cool.  For like 10 bucks, how can you go wrong with this set? Highlights include "come on, do I have to tell you" and "seriously, you should really know by now". Rating - 4/5

Blossom Toes - We Are Ever So Clean - Not nearly as heavy or proggy as their next album, Blossom Toes debut is full of progressive and interesting ideas for a typical British psychedelic pop album from the 60s.  It's highly influenced by Sgt Pepper, but it's still quite original.  The album also reveals the band's sense of humor.  I don't think they took themselves too seriously.  Highlights include "When the Alarm Clock Rings" and "I'll be Late for Tea". Rating - 3.5/5


Blue Aside - The Moles of a Dying Race - Heard about this one on the Obelisk, so I checked it out and liked what I heard and ordered the disc.  Just listening to it for the first time as I write this.  Slow, sludgy psychedelia and I like what I'm hearing.  The album comprises 8 tracks, three of which form the title suite and are spread out throughout the disc.  They also do a cover of "Interstellar Overdrive" for a closer!

Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum - A true monster fuzz classic, there are many out there who believe that this is the world's first heavy metal album.  I'm from the 'Sabbath were the first' school, but there's no denying the power and heaviness of Blue Cheer.  I'd say this is more stoner rock than metal, but that's with a great deal of hindsight.  There's a lot of jamming on this album but when they find a groove they find it well. Highlights include "Out of Focus" and "Summertime Blues". Rating - 4/5

Blue Oyster Cult - Tyranny and Mutation - In my possession is an old Return of the Jedi notebook from one of my uncles when they were in high school.  You can tell they were metalheads because there are no class notes taken, but band logos drawn on the inside front cover.  Names like AC/DC, Judas Priest, ZZ Top, etc.  One of the names written was BOC with umlauts over the O.  For the longest time I didn't know what that stood for.  I can't believe it's taken me the better part of 30 years to discover this 70s gem of a band.

Deep Purple - In Rock - My second favorite Deep Purple album, I actually already had this album on CD but there were no bonus tracks so I didn't have the song "Black Night" until now.  "Black Night" is arguably their best song, one of the best songs of the 70s and it's only because of an insane British custom at the time of not including singles on albums that the original album didn't feature the song.  Highlights include "Black Night" and "Into the Fire". Rating - 4.5/5

DSW - Dust Storm Warning -  The first two tracks on this album have become true highlights of the year, especially "Outrun", the opener.  The band is from Italy and vocalist Wolf Lombardi's (one of the great names in stoner rock) English skills aren't very well refined, so some of the funnest times my girlfriend and I had this summer was trying to decipher the lyrics.  The lyrics are printed in the booklet with excellent accompanying artwork.  Man, we were way, way off.  Also came with a fridge magnet! Highlights include "Outrun" and "Space Cubeship". Rating - 4/5


Seremonia - ST - What's great is the liner notes have the lyrics in both Finnish and English, which is something I touched upon in my original review.  This is the kind of album where you have to play it straight through, the individual songs don't always work on a mixed playlist because the band's so unique.  Once again, a great album from a highly original band.  Highlights include "Rock & Roll Maailma" and "Lusiferin Kaarmeet". Rating - 4.5/5


Skanska Mord - Paths to Charon - This has been one of my favorite albums of the year, three solid months and I'm still listening to it.  Each time I listen to this album a different song gets stuck in my head, as only the best albums do.  This will end up as a top 10 or maybe even a top 5 album of the year.  It has definitely been one of my favorite Small Stone releases of the year.  It's just a solid album full of old school rock with terrific hooks. Highlights include "Lord of Space and Time" and "The Ambassadeur". Rating - 4.5/5


Ted Nugent - Original Album Classics (5 album box set) - From the 'why the fuck not?' file, this sucker cost me about 12 bucks for 5 of the Nuge's first 6 albums (for some reason it doesn't have 'State of Shock').  Sure he's a gun toting bigot, but he has other good qualities as well, like the music.  The CDs come in LP replica slipcase covers.  I remember the Scream Dream LP tracked to my uncle's wall next to Maiden and Megadeth. Highlights include "Stranglehold" and "Cat Scratch Fever".


Thin Lizzy - ST - Thin Lizzy was always a mixed bag of big and funky hard rock and Irish folk ballads.  This album's no exception.  There's enough hard rock to keep the casual listener's attention and the ballads are typical of the lyrical depth of Phil Lynott.  I still have the same problem with this band that I've always had, which is that there just may be a few too many ballads. Highlights include "Ray-Gun" and "Return of the Farmer's Son". Rating - 3.5/5


Vanilla Fudge - ST - Unfortunately, I didn't get around to listening to this one this week and I haven't heard it in about 6 or 7 years.  I remember not liking it because it was all cover songs but I wonder what my reaction will be now that I know what to expect.  They took hit songs, heavied them up and slowed them down to a crawl.  Not everyone's cup of meat, but this, along with Blue Cheer, is one of those must have items for the heavy metal historian.  Pretty heavy for 1967.

Wo Fat - The Black Code - Glad to have this one on disc.  This album is closing in on top 25 of the year status and climbing.  Every song is an absolute gem and the lyrics inside the booklet (although hard to read due to contrast) are cool to read to get the overall concept of The Black Code in one easy sitting.  Like the other two Small Stone releases from this week this disc came with a Small Stone sticker. Highlights include "The Shard of Leng" and "Sleep of the Black Lotus". Rating - 5/5


I also got my Steak hat in the mail.  If you haven't heard this terrific band yet, you can find them here.  Word is they've got another EP in the works for 2013.  It came with some stickers and a flyer from their  UK mini-tour with Truckfighters! Dates below:
5th Dec w/Gonga at the Croft, Bristol
6th Dec w/Black Moth at the Cockpit, Leeds
7th Dec w/Desert Storm + Mother Corona at the Bullingdon Arms, Oxford
8th Dec w/Trippy Wicked at the underworld, London (Don't forget the aftershow party at the Black heart w/Black Moth)

Saturday, 10 November 2012

Hour of Power 11/10/12 (playlist)

Highlights from the week of 11/04/12 - 11/10/12





  1. Been Away Too Long (Soundgarden / King Animal) 2012
  2. Rock 'n' Roll Maalimaa (Seremonia / ST) 2012
  3. Centauri Teenage Riot (Indian Handcrafts / Civil Disobedience for Losers) 2012
  4. Dragonaut (Sleep / Sleep's Holy Mountain) 1993
  5. We All Rage in Gold (Neurosis / Honor Found in Decay) 2012
  6. The Suits, The Law & The Uniforms (Graveyard / Lights Out) 2012
  7. Time Warrior (Horisont / Second Assault) 2012
  8. Urban Guerilla (Hawkwind / Doremi Fasol Latido) 1972
  9. Possessed (Mara / Demo) 2012
  10. I Am Thunder (Mammoth Thunderpower) 2012
  11. A Different Moon (The Graviators / Evil Deeds) 2012
  12. Never Say Die (Black Sabbath / Never Say Die) 1979
  13. Big Black Cloud (Abrahma / Through the Dusty Path of Our Lives) 2012

Thursday, 8 November 2012

Seremonia - ST (album review)

Imagine being held prisoner by a gang of children who deliberate your fate in a monotonous emotionless tone in a language you don't understand, every now and then one of them will glance at you, pitilessly.  Ah, now you're ready for Seremonia.

Seremonia is a psychedelic stoner doom band from Finland whose female vocalist sings entirely in her native language.  They prefer to throw some funk in with their doom-y riffs and that together with the singer's dreamy and distant vocal delivery make for some eerie and memorable performances.

Though the lyrics are in Finnish song titles like "Lusiferin Käärmeet" and "Antikristus 666" leave little doubt for English speaking listeners as to their subject matter or the vibe they are going for and manage to pull off.  The latter features whispered spoken word passages in an already eerily subdued song structure.  The chorus's multi-tracked vocals and lazy delivery make for one of the most chilling moments on the album, and it's catchy as hell.

There are numerous catchy and memorable moments including the two songs mentioned above and also two songs the band has shot some funny and creepy promos for "Rock'n'rollin Maailma" and "Uhrijuhla".  These are perhaps the most uptempo moments on the album with emotionally distant vocals woven over funky riffs.  "Aamuruskon Kaupunki" is another standout track and offers something else by the group entirely.

My one major criticism with this album is that it's too short.

For bands from non-English speaking countries there must be some tension when coming to the decision of which language to sing in because the truth is the majority of the rock/metal audience speaks English.  A lot Swedish bands, for example, will allow themselves one Svensk song (or song title) on an album, but just one.  To sing in one's native language is a risky proposition, but for Seremonia to do so was the right decision.  The distant vocal style blends perfectly with the fact that you (non-Finns) don't know what's being sung, adding to the atmosphere and tension.  But I've already dwelt too much on the language when the point is always the music itself and its overall impact.

My fear is that non-Finns may not give this band a chance and that they will miss out on one of the most unique listening experiences of the year.  The songs are built from good funky riffs and solid rhythm but completely draped over in an atmosphere of eerie danger and deranged evil.

They are an experience unto themselves, this is an album guaranteed to throw you into a specific mood that only the best doom albums can.

Highlights include: "Uhrijuhla" and "Antikristus 666"

Rating: 4.5/5




From: Finland

Genre: Psychedelic, Stoner, Doom, Occult Rock, Retro Rock

Reminds me of: Black Sabbath, Blizaro, Ghost, Goblin


Tracklist
1). Seremonia (0:48)
2). Uhrijuhla (2:23)
3). Rock'n'rollin Maailma (3:28)
4). Huutava Taivas, Kuiskaava Maa (3:41)
5). Aamuruskon Kaupunki (5:50)
6). Kosminen Ruumisvaunu (2:10)
7). Lusiferin Käärmeet (4:23)
8). Antikristus 666 (3:05)
9). Kiirastulen Tähtisumu (1:08)
10). Hautakiven Varjossa (4:32)
Total Run Time: 31:22


Release Date: September 14, 2012

Suggested listening activity for fellow non-stoners: Being held at knifepoint in an old yellow school bus perched precariously on the edge of a mountain by the escaped inmates of New Bedlam's insane asylum for children.

GET IT HERE
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