Uljas Uusi Maailma

I suppose the first thing to clear up here is the translations. Obviously Finnish, which I don’t speak, but the helpful computer does and tells me the band name means “Death Valley” while the album title is “Brave New World”. Huxley’s dystopian tale clearly transfers across borders. I don’t know if the Californian geographical feature inspires the name.

Finland has produced plenty of superior metal bands over the years, the vocalist for example is a long serving member of another Finnish band Swallow The Sun (and recently appeared live with My Dying Bride). The question is whether this slab merits inclusion alongside Insomnium, Moonsorrow, Amorphis, Thergothon, …

Well this is very good. Not outstanding but we have here a very enjoyable 47 minutes of doomdeath. Production is really good, vocals are captured just so while the guitars have an excellent crunchy tone. As with all doomdeath there are slower, introspective sections with less distortion and these come across very clearly meaning the atmospheric effect is delivered. Even the synth/keys elements are fine, although the synth strings sound like every other you’ve heard. 

Songwriting is strong too, very confident for a band’s first release featuring some massive aggressive riffs which play off the synth hooks and percussive fills very nicely. Compared to other bands you might expect to have a similar sound like Daylight Dies these guys are less morose and brooding; there are Finnish folk influences such as the acoustic track Roihusydän (“Flare Heart” I believe) which then segues into one of the heavier tracks Etsin (“Viewfinder”), the midsection of which has probably my favourite riff of the whole affair. 

I came across this album via a Discogs purchase, the vendor would let me slip in another CD for no extra P&P so I bought this on a whim based on the genre description, and the price was low as it had been languishing for sale for years. I think it’s telling that I can’t remember the other album I bought at the same time. Uljas Uusi Maailma is one of the best doom death albums I’ve heard in years.