Keskeneräisiä tarinoita

Back in 2018, when Vermilia released her debut album, “Kätkyt”, I was instantly hooked by her music and to this day I still believe it to be one of the best and most refreshing takes on black metal that have emerged in recent years. The Finnish artist has envisioned an original sound, carrying a very distinctive signature which comes forth mainly through the atmosphere of the music and the various contrasting sonic textures. Another aspect that clearly stands out and elevates the sense of authenticity is definitely the use of lyrics in the beautiful Finnish language, proving that despite it being a mouthful, it can be one of the most lyrical and musical languages. This is also what sparks an aura of mystery for anyone who doesn’t actually understand the language, making it all the more intriguing.

I guess not being fully aware of what the songs and lyrics are about is a huge part of why Vermilia speaks to me on a deeper emotional level, one that somehow bypasses the filter of my rational thinking and hits straight to the core. And while the first album completely won me over with its unique blend of harshness and melody, I am pleased to say that Vermilia has found a way to evolve and not get stuck in a recipe. But at the same time, she maintained most of the components that made her debut so outstanding. The new EP, “Keskeneräisiä tarinoita”, is composed of 4 songs that show a boost in compositional variety and are all very unique while fitting together very well on the same release. I would say the production sound is even more raw and black metal oriented on this new release but it also sounds bigger and more impactful. And although the muddy blast beats and organic freshness of the dirty guitar tone are at the core of her sound, they come in contrast with the beautiful harmonies, melody and soothing atmosphere that also provides the full soundscape with a sense of refinement and professionalism. It is very rarely that I come across a raw mix which actually delivers good sound quality and this is certainly one of those moments.

In terms of composition, the key ingredient is the clever use of contrasts, either between grinding riffage and soothing melody or between the two textures of her voice, harsh and clean, which are often layered and sing in unison, driving an experience that is both intense and liberating at once. The tempos are fast enough to maintain a good flow of energy but it is never the speed or intensity that leads the emotion of the songs. Most of the time, all the aggressive components feel like a groundwork for the true artistry to unfold which is an almost indescribable form of expression. I always felt that Vermilia’s sound is rooted in a connection with nature, with all the textures and combined sounds coming together to evoke vivid sensations and images of serene natural landscapes and weather phenomena. On this one, there is also an enhanced use of keyboards/samples which allows the music to expand and facilitates a sense of freedom or lightness in the dynamics of the songs.

Each track on this EP is different from the others but they all seem to connect really well. The opening song, “Hauras, kuollut, kaunis”, could be seen as an intro but it definitely also stands as a song on its own. It has no metal elements at all but it engages the listener with thundering percussion, organic folk instruments and sprinkles of orchestration, developing the atmosphere for the coming songs to unfold. “Taivas hiljaa huutaa” flashes back to the debut the most, delivering her unmistakable sound signature of melodic black metal with clear, soaring vocal melodies. The title track, “Keskeneräisiä tarinoita” slows down the pace, feeling like the most soothing song on the EP but also the most epic, as it is enhanced with further use of strings or keyboards. It is not drenched in samples and it certainly doesn’t alter the natural feel that the music carries but it has the ideal balance between the black metal foundation and the orchestral element. For the final track, “Pimeä polku”, the tempo picks up, the energy darkens and we are greeted with what might just be the most black metal oriented song she has put out so far. All the melodic elements are still present but they are pushed to the background, making way for the harsh vocals, blast beats, grinding riffs and surprisingly penetrating bass sound to unleash the darker energies of her emotional spectrum.

I have to admit, I enjoyed “Kätkyt” somewhat more than this new EP since it felt like a more complete experience, being a full-length and covering a wider array of emotions and compositional approaches. But I am pleased to see that Vermilia didn’t get caught up in the exact same pattern but slightly tweaked her musical ideas to form something new, relevant and equally satisfying. “Keskeneräisiä Tarinoita” is out now and can be found on streaming services and on Bandcamp.

Originally written for The Metal Observer.