Release date: 16th December 2022
Well aren’t we lucky, getting two releases from Kuolemanlaakso in 2022? Recorded in the same session as March’s full-length release Kuusumu, Kuolleiden laulu features three very varied tracks that showcase the many different sides of this talented band.
The first track of the three, Kuolleiden laulu, is perhaps the most radio-friendly song I’ve ever heard by them! Very melodically-driven, the song features solely clean vocals and the instrumentation is soft and light – quite a far cry from the usual crushing heaviness Kuolemanlaakso is known for. Yet despite this track being quite unlike anything the band has done before, it is still undeniably Kuolemanlaakso, featuring all the emotion and colour that usually features in one of their songs, and I personally adore this song.
The second track, Juuret jalkojeni alla, is perhaps best described as classic Kuolemanlaakso. It has a more familiar sound to it and juxtaposes really nicely against the previous track as a result. Another very strong inclusion in its own right, it really helps to keep the EP moving and it progresses fantastically into the final track of the three, Rautasiivet. Rautasiivet is almost like a combination of the two; combining crushing heaviness with softer melodies and it just works. A triumphant end to Kuolleiden laulu, it winds things up nicely to end on a high.
The thing that makes Kuolleiden laulu so good is that whilst it features three distinctly different songs, they fit together perfectly and each song is undeniably them, which is testament to masterful songwriting. And I for one am excited to see what route they take next.
