Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus - Synkkä Tuuli & Väinämöinen (2013)

Although baring a Finnish name (translating to something like, nihilistic barbarism), the three piece collectively known as, Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus, hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA and through their first record, Synkkä Tuuli, they give us their take on the ambient black metal sub-genre.

As Ylittäen Jäätyneen Pohjoisen (I) first escapes through my speakers and enters into my living room, I'm reminded of artists like, Paysage d'Hiver, Burzum, Evilfeast and Vinterriket. True, the formula behind this is predictable, but at least their are quite a few pleasing melodies within the guitar work and some outstanding synth work at times. The second part of, Ylittäen Jäätyneen Pohjoisen being a prime example, where as the short acoustic/piano piece, Itämeri Anomalia is one of the albums finest moments. Arktinen Välisoitto is a straight forward ambient piece in the Burzum Hliðskjálf vein, while, the title track returns to the ambient black metal side of things with ,Ketamiini, another acoustic piece closes out the short thirty minute album.

What perhaps throws the album off a bit is the usage of a flat and dead sounding drum machine, which is..., well, its a goddamn drum machine in black metal and I'm sure you know how that goes and sounds. The vocals, similarly, don't offer up much life, but just that typical ominous shrieking, which is so common with this genre. Again, on the plus side, interesting riffs and synth passages do grace this album, its just that the overall song writing is not all there. Fortunately, the more recently released, Väinämöinen, EP sees things going in a better direction.

Väinämöinen, the bands most recent recording manifests itself as a two track EP, which also sees one previous member departing, as well as, another switching roles and welcoming two new faces to their ranks. Even if this EP follows that same formula once again, the title track feels much more aggressive and dark sounding, also far more melodic and dare I say catchy in its pummeling delivery.

The other song this EP, Yö, Jolloin Hän Kuoli, is another acoustic piece with something of a progressive and Agalloch-y vibe to it.

Additionally, the band also allowed me to hear the instrumental masters of their upcoming album, which I'm told will be largely based around the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. Musically it seems to pick up where the EP left off, the songs are faster, with vibrant synth work, clever riffs, waves of brooding darkness and I'll have to assume eventually killer ass vocals, too. So, I suppose I'll be curious to hear it once its finished.

All in all, through the album to the EP, Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus, offer up interesting, although somewhat typical ambient black metal. Of course, I've always been something of an outsider to this particular sub-genre, having never really "got it," but it you've ever enjoyed any of the bands above then I'm quite sure you'll want to keep tabs on these guys.