Written By: Namesless_N00b_87
Extreme Northern Griefmetal, the debut full-length from Finnish melodic death metal project Griefsoul, is the result of measured evolution. The creation of solo artist Emppu Kinnaslampi, the Finn has spent the past four years carefully shaping his take on the infamous Finnish melo-death sound, drawing inspiration from the frigid, dark, and unforgiving Northern winters by partially writing, composing, and experimenting with his self-described and ambitiously titled “grief metal orchestra” from the confines of a snow-covered woodland cabin. Since its meteoric rise at the beginning of the new millennia, no other genre has arguably been more consistent than Finnish melo-death, using its tried-and-true formula of thrashy, power metal-influenced riffs and harmonies, coupled with atmospheric, soaring, orchestral refrains, to drive melancholic and melodic soundscapes. So, when Extreme Northern Griefmetal fell into my lap, I was eager to find out if Griefsoul could capture the raw power and intensity of the genre and possibly even deliver a fresh new take.
Griefsoul partially fulfills my hopes. Predictably, Extreme Northern Griefmetal is heavily steeped in the well-known stylings of genre legends like Children of Bodom, Mors Principium Est, and Norther, replete with the same combination of aggression and power, catchy lead-driven hooks and breakdowns, and epic symphonic propositions that one would expect. Kinnaslampi’s talent is obvious, not only in his virtuosity on the fretboard but with his varied vocal delivery, bouncing between an abrasive fry to a blackened rasp at will. Machine-driven drum arrangements that jump between relentless double bass (“Northern Cradle”), up-tempo gallops (“Vagary,” “Meant to Be Broken”), intermittent blasts (“Twilight Flame,” “Soulburial,” “The Melancholist”), and half-time slams (“Ends in Grief”), work overtime with the systematic bass to intensify the collection of Kinnaslampi’s impressive riffing and tasteful symphonic arrangements. These elements combine to create an accessible, albeit sterile and inconsistent, melo-death album that will appeal to a broad audience.
Kinnaslampi’s exceptional talent shines through in Extreme Northern Griefmetal. His ability to blend his instrumental prowess with majestic symphonic arrangements to create intricate, rich, and atmospheric compositions is striking. From the technical interplay in the bridge of “Heart of Eternal” or “Northern Cradle,” to neo-classical overtures in “Soulburial,” or the feudal sounds that anchor the chorus in “Vagary,” Kinnaslampi assures Griefsoul’s instrumentation of thrashy melodic riffs and melancholic synths dance elegantly or deconflict altogether. Kinnaslampi’s guitar performance itself is particularly impressive, with blistering tremolos (“Soulburial,” “Heart of Eternal”), extreme power riffs (“Twilight Flame,” “Northern Cradle,” “Made to Be Broken”), and technical melodic leads and hooks (“Twilight Flame,” “Soulburial,” “The Melancholist”) that provide the aggression and power I require for melo-death to hit. Top things off with a smattering of head-banging breakdowns and blood curdling screams (“Ends in Grief,” “The Melancholist”) for good measure, and all the ingredients are in place for Kinnaslampi’s “grief metal orchestra” to really shine.
Although Extreme Northern Griefmetal is a solid melo-death release, it fails to break new ground and Kinnaslampi’s songwriting could benefit from further refinement. The album’s eight tracks follow a repetitive approach of heavy verses, melodic choruses, and breakdowns that are as methodological as they are predictable. The album’s formula becomes clear as soon as the fading solo in “The Melancholist” ends, subsequently making the album’s second half difficult for me to fully engage with. Additionally, the harmonic that concludes “Soulburial,” or the short arpeggiated chord that closes “Meant to Be Broken” are awkward, evidencing Kinnaslampi’s songwriting could use more polish. Furthermore, Extreme Northern Griefmetal’s production compounds its monotony. The overly sterile and synthetic mix— while featuring plenty of bass— lacks dynamics and is dominated by high frequencies. The drums sound artificial and lifeless, lacking variation, heft or natural feel with lackluster fills and cymbals that sound like a static wash. Even the guitar tone sounds overly mechanical at times (”Meant to Be Broken,” “Northern Cradle,” “The Melancholist”), thereby undermining one of Extreme Northern Griefmetal’s primary strengths. A real band behind Kinnaslampi would have added a much-needed organic feel to Griefsoul’s sound.
Extreme Northern Griefmetal is a promising debut, showcasing Kinnaslampi’s talent for crafting atmospheric, powerful, and aggressive melo-death. Although the album delivers on many fronts, it ultimately falls short of the fresh approach I was hoping for with too much formulaic songwriting and uninspiring production. Nevertheless, Extreme Northern Griefmetal is an encouraging start for Griefsoul and all signs point to greater successes by Kinnaslampi in the future.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: NA | Format Reviewed: 24 Bit 44k WAV
Label: Self-Released
Websites: griefsoul.bandcamp.com | griefsoul.com
Releases Worldwide: October 10th, 2024
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