Kaunis Kuolematon continues its coldness.
Two years after their last album, the band composed of Olli Saakeli Suvanto (vocals, Tomb of Finland, End of Aeon), Mikko Heikkilä (guitar/vocals, Dawn of Solace, ex-Sinamore), Ville Mussalo (guitar, End of Aeon), Jarno Uski (bass, End of Aeon, ex-Sinamore) and Miika Hostikka (drums, ex-Sinamore) unveil Kun Valo Minussa Kuoli, their fifth album.
Kaiku begins with an intoxicating softness that eventually gives way to saturation while retaining its bright and airy tones, weaving an omnipresent melancholy even before the first vocals reach us, focused on violence through wild screams. The track is fairly short, however, and gives way to Merta, which quickly revives these soaring leads but also offers Mikko‘s clean vocals in response to Olli‘s roars, particularly in moments with virulent black metal roots. The imposing Kun Kyynelistä Muodostuu Meri takes over and imposes its heaviness but above all its pace, which remains fairly moderate but doesn’t hesitate to ignite when it wants to or, on the contrary, to calm down even more and become quite minimalist, especially before the intense break when Rauniot regains some warmth in its rhythm. The riffs are much more energetic, and the few bursts of fire are sure to remind us at regular intervals, still giving us a moment of calm before moving on to the final and the much darker Maailman Ainut Ihminen, which slows down the pace again. A few backing vocals by Gogo Melone (Aeonian Sorrow) blossom at times, making the mix even more contrasting and mystical, then it is with a refined finale that the clear vocals lead us to Kaipaus, where we find dissonant but strangely calm harmonics. The crystalline sound allows Mikko to find a certain tranquility to lean on before the rhythm ignites and he is joined by his screaming comrade before a particularly cryptic moment that sets the stage for the final, which joins the eponymous title, Kun Valo Minussa Kuoli. The band again relies on majestic tones here to seduce and capture our minds, only to ultimately mistreat them, opening up to ever more violence and piercing sounds that strike regularly before Kuura allows us a moment of respite with its airy introduction. Saturation is obviously never far away, taking advantage of the intrinsic duality of the band’s music to reinforce certain aspects, as on Aatos, which offers much more striking moments to close the album without denying either aspect of its musical personality.
Since I discovered Kaunis Kuolematon, the band has never ceased to amaze me. Their icy melancholy fully embraces its Finnish roots, but it is also very personal, delivering unique touches that are once again magnified on Kun Valo Minussa Kuoli.
90/100