Rating: 9.5/10
Release: 12 November / 1 December 2017
Label: Independent / Bandcamp

Studies may be necessary to establish why so many metal acts come from Finland. Is it the long and cold winters? The lakes, the forest and the mosquitoes? It’s a fact though, that Finland is the home of many fine metal bands. Here is yet another one. Not a band though, but a female artist. Her site and Facebook account do not offer too much info, so we can’t be sure to which extent this is a one woman band. There is a little bit of mystery about the act. We know she will release a full album in 2018 and she is feeding us singles one at a time. In fact three in November and December, but to be able to listen to the third one you have to be a VIP-member of Bandcamp. The album is yet untitled. And we don’t know who is playing or whether she will perform live at any time. Is this a marketing strategy to keep us on our toes? Well, I must admit I am interested. For now the first two singles are ready to be reviewed.

‘Vedestä Vieraantunut’ is the first single that has been released. And it is FANTASTIC. Even though it is mid-paced, it grabs you immediately. Production is great, all the instruments easily to be recognized. At 1:20 Vermilia’s voice is heard for the first time. It’s melancholic, clean, yet powerful. Not you every day wannabee opera singer at all. Male growling coming to the party. Or is it Vermilia doing her own Angela Gossow? Either way, brilliantly performed. Great riffing, variety in speed. All 6:41 of extremely interesting music. As her Facebook states this is a mix of Epic Scandinavian Pagan Metal and sweet, raw and melancholic vocal harmonies with lyrics in her native language. That description is right on the money. With emphasis on epic, sweet and raw at the same time.

Over to second single ‘Poissa’. No intro here, start your double bass at 0:00. Again a great and interesting battle between clean and forced vocals. Also again, enough variety in pace. Differences to the first single: far more fast pieces, some guitar solo’s and a duration of less than four minutes. These differences tell us there may be even more possibilities for the artist than she is showing us already.

Absolutely stunning stuff. A new kid on the pagan block to be reckoned with. An artists with some USP’s that’s got me craving for more.