Ilon Lapset - Mykkä pimeys

Label: Rämekuukkeli Levyt/Visceral Circuitry

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date - 10 Aug 2025

 Tracklist:

1. Hukkaan

2. Sotaa

3. Rangaistus

4. Juon Yksin

5. Ei Vastausta

6. Pimeyden Sydän

A few weeks ago I received the newest release from my friend Tuukka (who runs the Finnish label Rämekuukkeli Levyt), a digipack CD of the new album from Tampere sludge quartet Ilon Lapset. Mykkä pimeys was released in August in cooperation with French label Visceral Circuitry Records and is the band's second full-length. Ilon lapset previously released two demos in 2020 and 2022 respectively, before their first full-length Kurjuuden tuijotus in 2023.

It feels like an age since I last featured a Finnish band here (sorry for the endless delays in that department!) and thanks to Tuukka for the patience. The intro to opener ‘Hukkaan’ is deceptively upbeat and Moriondor, its creator, does a great job of throwing you off the scent musically. When the intro fades, you’re greeted with grimy sludge that’s just perfect for this time of year (or any other time!). I think Finnish bands produce sludge that’s similar to those in the UK, albeit with their own personality thrown in for good measure. 

I’ve been turned onto so many bands through Rämekuukkeli Levyt, including Cicutoxin, Slave Hands, Frogskin, Taser and countless others so it’s no surprise that Ilon Lapset clicked with me straight away. ‘Sotaa’ sounds so full and enjoyable with it’s lumbering percussion, thunderously low bass, properly heavy guitar work and vocals that are scarier than a scary film. I’ve run out of ways to describe how each instrument/voice sounds, as you can probably tell!

The one thing that does stand out here is the very brief use of guitar feedback, as is evident at the start of ‘Rangaistus’. Feedback is synonymous with sludge, but Ilon Lapset prefer a more straightforward approach, which is absolutely fine because it doesn’t really suit the tone of the song anyway. It’s more stripped back and  simplistic, in a good way.

Given the sub-genre that Ilon Lapset align to (in loose terms), they make a point of filling their songs with plenty of atmosphere. The spoken-word/ambient sample approach on ‘Juon Yksin’ works a treat and propels their sound to another realm. The return of the vocals after the midway point come as a shock because the earlier instrumental element was so transfixing. 

There’s a marauding/driving feel to penultimate song ‘Ei Vastausta’ to start with, but that’s just a ruse as things take a more sinister, slower turn later on. It’s easy to get lost in tempos and the change here is subtle but very effective. Closing song ‘Pimeyden Sydän’ gives off that dopamine-induced feeling thanks to its drawn out riffs and overall dankness.

It’s not the album’s longest song but it doesn’t need to be. Ilon Lapset are able to fill it with the pure nastiness that comes from a land that in places, falls into a dark winter (known as kaamos) for two months of the year. Ultimately, this album is one that’s drenched in darkness but also one that’s oddly filled with a sense of hope. No matter how dark things get, there’s always light at the end.

You can stream and purchase the album on physical and digital formats from the band below:-

Ilon Lapset don't really use social media but you can follow them on Youtube here - https://www.youtube.com/@ILONLAPSETofficial

Physical CD copies are also available from the labels below:-

Visceral Circuitry Records - https://visceralcircuitryrecs.bandcamp.com/album/mykk-pimeys

Rämekuukkeli Levyt - https://www.discogs.com/label/426384-Rämekuukkeli

Visceral Circuitry Records - https://www.facebook.com/visceralcircuitryrecs

Rämekuukkeli Levyt - https://www.facebook.com/ramekuukkeli/