#15: Oranssi Pazuzu - 'Värähtelijä'
http://www.oranssipazuzu.com This is definitely not the most "out there" Oranssi album, which means this is not my favorite of theirs... but they are still making music on another level, even if not quite as high as their usual leveling up. The album does have its moments of weirdness and transcendental overtures, but 'Värähtelijä' is all about business. This is the most in your face, focused Orannsi Pazuzu album. Toned back a bit are the trippy layering, the multi-levular approach. That's some word I made up once, it's fun. This album bigly kicks ass is what I'm saying. Well hell, I am just meandering around the point: I have been a fan of this band for years now, so how cool is that? This may or may not be the most annoying review I'll ever write. But what more can I say about this band? I really love how unique it is, the blend of styles, the high production value, the weirdness of the band, etc etc. Oranssi Pazuzu is still all those things, but not quite as out there, like they are pulling back a bit and showing us what they are all about... which means, it is probably a good introductory album to the band. The band has made year end lists before with an incredibly strong discography. If you have not checked them out before, they have been described as black metal meets Pink Floyd; extreme rock with prog and psyche rock overtones and subtle nods to many different genres; things like that. At times they sound a bit like a Finnish version of Today Is The Day (another super heavy but psychedelic heavy metal band). I'm not really sure how to best describe them. But they are heavy, intense, and mystical sounding. Those combinations usually form my favorite heavy metal bands as long as they keep things unpredictable. I wanted to keep this album off the top 25 and in the Honorable Mentions category as a punishment for not expanding the sound further and instead contracting a bit... but maybe it was necessary for them as a band. Whatever the case, this album freaking rocks and sounds amazing, one of the best produced albums of 2016. If you love heavy, weird music, you must check these guys out and get that discography, it is dense, strong, and among the best heavy metal releases over the past decade. If you are new to the band, start with this one and then work your way back to the beginning, it is a memorable trip. This band has a certain magic to their inimitable sound, stellar production expertise, exquisite tones, multiple levels of sounds both concrete and spacey layered on top of each other, forming some of the best music you'll ever hear if you can get past the fact that some crazy motherfucker from Finland is screaming his balls off at you in an unknown language. Keep an open mind, listen, tune in and drop out. 'Värähtelijä' did not quite trip me out as much as I wanted it to, and it didn't get as weird as the other albums, but it still rocks harder than most and hones in on their core sound which is good enough for #15 on the list. I suggest checking out "Hypnotisoitu Viharukous", my favorite song of this 2016 incarnation of the band! Seriously, just get their entire discography, it's well worth it.
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AuthorG.M. Bowles Archives
February 2017
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