Album Review: Verilehto – Kuoleman Siipien Havina (Inverse Records)

Finnish black metal band Verilehto is set to release their debut album ‘Kuoleman Siipien Havina’ on November 10th, 2023, via Inverse Records.

As black as the void between worlds, Verilehto draws from the hateful and horrible sound of their black metal predecessors but infuse an emphatic level of atmosphere and melody into their sound to freshen it up. The end result is a delightful encapsulation of their own personal brand of horror, spread across six (plus an intro) expansive efforts.

After a short piece of melody in the form of Johdanto, Verilehto come out howling with the powerful and pernicious Lohduton Kylmä Polku. Here, the black metallers show what they are capable of as the track is harsh and heavy, but it has an underlying groove that intrigues.

Kuoleman Siipien Havina follows that with deeper and darker depths, where Verilehto gloomy heaviness begins to spread further afield. Before the sound of Alla Tähtitaivaan catapults the listener into hellish pits, even with its melodic dashes, and Kirottu Kiulu comes with a hefty amount of bleakness. Here, Verilehto take a more droning approach and it certainly piles the misery on.

The highlight of the record though, is the high energy attack of Hirtetyn Hyvästit. Where the black metal groove and grim heaviness is at its most emphatic sounding. All before Verilehto round up a solid debut release with the brash atmospheric hit that is Kalman Seppä. The most intricate offering of all. The black metal gods will be very happy indeed.

Verilehto – Kuoleman Siipien Havina Track Listing:

1. Johdanto
2. Lohduton Kylmä Polku
3. Kuoleman Siipien Havina
4. Alla Tähtitaivaan
5. Kirottu Kiulu
6. Hirtetyn Hyvästit
7. Kalman Seppä

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Inverse Records