The Path of Ayin

There is not much that has not been said about Finnish black metal, so I am not going to try to add anything essentially new. When done in the right way there is still a lot of enjoyment to get out of this style, and so many fans of the genre do no get tired hunting for more stuff. 359 are one of the probably lesser known acts, although the mastermind behind the music has also been active in a few other projects. When listening to the EP “The Path of Ayin” it becomes clearly evident that Sunken has been a follower of the local sound, taking some of the best ingredients to create his own interpretation. While less than 20 minutes long there is enough meat to pick from the bones, offering a short yet satisfying ride for purists.

This album alternates between the mid-range and upper range of the guitar, with the drums providing a more or less permanent blasting in the background. The cascades of cymbals and rolling drums are broken up in a few groovier mid-tempo sections, making up for some nice variation. The icy riffs and punchy drums make up for a hellish combination. While the overall character is grim and frosty there is no shortage of great and captivating lead harmonies, permanently dwelling in the background as counterpart to the fierce and harsh chords and blast attacks. While very misanthropic as usual for this style, the three songs here are surprisingly melodic at their core.

So what else do you need to know? The vocals are as sinister as it gets, with additional effects put on top to make them sound even more otherworldly and cavernous. You really get the feeling of an ancient demon which has been summoned to do the job. One thing that is fantastic as well is the production. The sound is raw and pure, without sacrificing a certain level of clarity and dynamism to make the instruments being noticeable beneath the cold and somehow distant nature of the mix. The drums are probably programmed, but who cares as long as the end result is good.

The cover artwork of “The Path of Ayin” is simple yet fitting, so the purchase of the CD version is a good idea for collectors. Like always Schattenkult have done a good job here. In the end you should ask yourself the question what you are looking for. Something totally new and innovative that we have never seen before? Then trot off. Otherwise give this project a listen and get ready for a short yet convincing slab of classic Finnish black metal.