Radien - Aste

Labels: Bunkkeri Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 03 Jul 2019

Tracklist:

1. Tunne

2. Haudat

It's a weird feeling when you feel mentally drained but physically raring to go. Maybe it's because it's nearly the end of another working week and hedonism awaits. Either way, passing another milestone on the blog this week has left me with a satisfied inner warmth and the impetus to write more. Radien is a band that I've featured before and because of my love for Finnish bands, I was excited to review, though it's taken a little longer than I had hoped to get to this point. The band's latest work "Aste" was released in July via Finnish label Bunkkeri Records and since it's release, support slots alongside Full Of Hell have been and gone, only to be followed soon by equally as big shows in November alongside Inter Arma,

“Aste” features only two songs but they’re both long players. Tunne begins with plenty of ambience and emotive vocals courtesy of Noora Kauppila (melodic singing) and Juuso Raunio (chants and throat singing). It takes a while for Radien’s black/doom/sludge to build and in doing so, it paints a bleak image that’s inescapable. When Radien opens up the delivery provides an equal atmosphere with pained growls and metallic layers that remind you of slower, sludge-filled metallic hardcore from the likes of Integrity (at times). The bass-tone accompanies the slower tempos throughout dragging Radien’s sound down an ever deeper and darker rabbit hole.

Second song Haudat is equally as atmospheric, with a much heavier slant than Tunne initially. Radien’s avant-garde vision definitely came through during that first song and it’s alive and well here thanks to the addition of the Saxophone played by Tommi Rapeli. It works really well alongside the dissonance and feedback (as well as what sounds like whale song, though it’s probably not). Being mainly instrumental, Haudat is left to wander on it’s own and forge a path that’s sometimes disturbing and sometimes hauntingly beautiful. Overall, “Aste” is a lovely body of work but it leaves you hoping that Radien’s productivity will lead to more songs and even a longer full-length record soon. For now though, the band's entire back catalogue is worthy of your attention and admiration.

You can stream "Aste" and buy it digitally and on vinyl below:-

CD copies, vinyl and other Radien merch is available from Bunkkeri Records below:-

https://bunkkeristore.selz.com

Radien - https://www.facebook.com/radienband/

Bunkkeri Records - https://www.facebook.com/bunkkerirecords/

Lähdön Aika - Alku

Labels: Self-Released/Bunkkeri Records/Ramekuukkeli-Levyt

Format: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 17 May 2019

Tracklist:

1. Huomisen Toivo

2. Matkalla

3. Kuka Sina Olet

4. Rauha

5. Pelko

6. Ainoa Tie

Goddamn! The last couple of weeks have been pretty frustrating as I've not been able to get into a proper writing flow. Changes will be made soon to allow me to focus on it more regularly, I promise. This review is one I've had in the works for a couple of weeks and features Finnish hardcore/doom/sludge/crust/all-the-genres band Lähdön Aika.The last review I wrote featuring this band was about their 2014 split with Frogskin, so it's been a little while. They self-released their latest record on CD and digitally, while Bunkkeri Records and Ramekuukkeli-Levyt released it on vinyl. Thanks go to Tuukka for sending me a CD copy.

It’s suddenly become hot as hell here and while I should be outside with a cold beer, I’m barricading myself inside as I finally have the chance to sit and listen to this beast. Lähdön Aika really hits the spot and the opening song on “Alku”, Huomisen Toivo rages with a mix of atmospheric crust, hardcore and supreme Scandinavian doom. The native lyrics and the barked vocals are set against spacey and bass-laden instrumentation that is off-kilter but also a lot of fun. Acoustic guitar opens Matkalla with a subtle poignancy before the tower of riffs kick in. The verses are stripped down with the vocals sounding more like a battle cry. That’s okay though as they work perfectly in a song that thrives on repeating passages and droning textures. 

These are most definitely tracks for music fans that don’t just get their satisfaction from instant gratification and Kuka Sina Olet is the second longest at just over eight-minutes. It’s hypnotising with a tempo that seems to get faster, though this may be an illusion to these ears. Either way, it’s heavy, claustrophobic and extremely rhythmic, though I wouldn’t suggest rocking any young child to sleep while listening to this! It’s in the instrumental passages that Lähdön Aika truly comes to life and Rauha is a great example of this. Again, it’s subtly stripped down yet it retains the band’s signature heaviness and poise. The recording/production/mastering also helps in that department as it allows the music to sound clear, while not losing it’s extreme impact. 

Pelko appears without so much as a breath and the layered doom that Lähdön Aika is so good at really sounds as if it’s been perfected here. They’ve really hit their stride on this one and while it’s not super abrasive or slow, it doesn’t matter one jot. Musically this is spot on. Album closer Ainoa Tie is positively short compared to those that came before it and it’s (relative) urgency is the perfect way to close out “Alku”. The metallic guitar work and prominent drumming is right up there, as it has been throughout while the vocals sound like a call-to-arms but not in a cliche way. This is a great record. The way that the extremity of it is tempered by the melodic layers and the consistent tempos make it a really enjoyable and engaging listen. Get at it!

Stream and buy "Alku" on all formats below:-

Lähdön Aika - https://www.facebook.com/lahdonaika/

Vinyl copies can also be purchased via the labels below:-

Bunkkeri Records - https://www.facebook.com/bunkkerirecords/

Ramekuukkeli-Levyt - https://www.facebook.com/Rämekuukkeli-levyt