Album Review: Oddland – Vermilion (UPRISING! Records)

Finnish avant-garde and progressive metal band, Oddland bring forth their third full-length album entitled ‘Vermilion’ on March 11th, 2022. Out via UPRISING! Records on digital, LP (marbled red/black vinyl, limited to 300 units) and CD formats.

The title track is split into 5 parts beginning with Arrival. A soft and mellow piano piece introduces things, before a methodical drumbeat and vibrant bass guitar picks up the tempo. Then along comes a mournful saxophone and it is immediately clear that Oddland are going to live up to their name.

It’s a short introduction and quietly transitions into Pt.2 Below. Where Oddland unleash the full power of their progressive metal side. Delivering a dreaminess that contrasts the heft of their more metal-orientated instrumentation. Wonderfully unusual and deeply captivating.

Pt.3 The Walls of the Mind then takes everything you’ve learned about Oddland so far and turns them on its head. A baffling display of progressive detail, this is a band in complete command of their instruments to ensure this doesn’t descend into nonsense. Not an easy task as the shifts, twists and turns are so unexpected and sudden, that keeping up with what Oddland do next is genuinely difficult.

Fun though…

Speaking of which… the moodier groove and eclectic tempo of Pt.4 Feed the Void is a thrilling inclusion. Nowhere as complex (although that isn’t saying much when it comes to Oddland), a melodic shift disrupts proceedings but in a positive way. It’s just another deeply imaginative listen from a band brimming over with ideas.

Which brings us to the most varied and challenging track on the album. The 8+ minute epic that is Pt.5 Emancipator, one of the most melodramatic but intriguing listens on the entire album. The dreaminess is back, particularly with the vocals but unsurprisingly, there is a shift that has the instrumentation get chuggy and chunky sounding before an extended solo leads to a tranquil drop. Following that, it might as well be a different track but take a moment and recognise the thrilling conclusion to an epic.

After such a breathless effort, it’s no surprise that Pathway is very short, vocally ubiquitous, and mellow. Before Resonance has Oddland throw caution to the wind for an energetic bout of progressive heaviness. Somehow, one of the grandest sounding tracks on the album, thanks to the blast of guitars and drums.

Its one last unique offering that has the same intense, heavy instrumentation but balances it out with soaring vocals and melodic touches. A powerful closing track and the exclamation point on one hell of an ambitious release. Like a lot of progressive metal, it’s going to divide opinion but one thing everyone can agree on is Vermilion is fascinating.

Oddland – Vermilion Full Track Listing:

1. Vermilion Pt.1 Arrival
2. Vermilion Pt.2 Below
3. Vermilion Pt.3 The Walls of the Mind
4. Vermilion Pt.4 Feed the Void
5. Vermilion Pt.5 Emancipator
6. Pathway
7. Resonance
8. Unity

Links

Website | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram