PAARA - 'Yön Olevainen Puoli' [Finnish Black Metal]

Band: PAARA
Release: YON OLEVAINEN PUOLI
Label: BLACKWOOD PRODUCTIONS
Genre: BLACK METAL
Location: HELSINKI, FINLAND
Link: https://paara.bandcamp.com/



Helsinki’s PAARA may well be one of my new favourite black metal bands. Catchy, hypnotic and dark, the band’s debut album ‘Yon Olevainen Puoli’ which has been released on cassette through Blackwood Productions is a stone wall black metal classic. Taking inspiration from traditional Finnish folk stories that lean towards the darker side of human nature and nature itself, Paara undoubtedly tread their own path in both musical style and lyrical content. Opening with the track ‘Paara’, the band set a fast, almost bouncy pace as the melodies on offer simply glided by with an unprecedented feeling of fun by black metal standards. Still, following a sinister intro into the track the darker overtones are laid down early through soft, colder guitar work before increasing the volume and density of their sound. Vocalists Helmouth and Zvartus both have a savage intensity to their style that fits around the band's fluid, flowing melodies superbly.

Kicking straight into a colder, more traditional black sound, ‘Ruttoa ja Kuolemaa’ quickly picks up the catchy riff-age from the previous track. Despite the lyrics being in Finnish, there is a sense given out in the way that the songs are structured and presented as a tale being told. Clearly Paara as well as being technically proficient musicians are also vastly superior song writers, when a non-Finnish speaking listener can still grasp the epic nature of their work. For those of us who don’t speak the lingo, there is plenty more to sink your teeth into. Some impressive guitar solos, a powerful driven pace dictated by the drums and bolstered by sturdy bass work, and in places a disturbingly nocturnal synth undertone combining with the haunting female vocals of Lempo. In contrast to the darkness of the previous track, the soft guitar and haunting backing vocals intro for ‘Joutomaa’ despite croaked main vocals is quite pleasant and calming. The song itself has a slower pace, a far more ominous and intense flow and the mesmerizing riffs are well executed. I like the cleaner vocal work for this track, the more progressive guitar melodies work really well too.

‘Aikaan Hautautunut’ closes the album, it’s intro a mixture of calming tones and then nerve gripping noises. Clean female vocals add a touch of folk music to the accompaniment of acoustic guitar. This then leads to an almost bestial savage attack of axe wielding and drumming which cry out maniacally with blistering ferocity before grooving fluently into more fast paced catchy riffs. As far as debut albums go it’s a beauty. Varied, intoxicating and one that will get multiple plays. The cassettes are very well produced and the presentation is excellent. I’d strongly recommend you pick one up. [9 out of 10]