Well, it’s been a long while since I last made one of these – this is in fact my first playlist of 2016! So without further ado, here are five tracks that you really need to get familiar with.
Whispered – Strike!
Okay, colour me excited. Whispered, a band that I’ve actually travelled to Finland to see, is actually going to be coming to the UK for a tour in September – check the details in full here. And not only that – by some incredible feat of luck I’m going to be in Järvenpää on the day they’re playing there with Vorna, so I’ll get to see another Finnish show of theirs too! The band recently released their third album Metsutan – Songs of the Void so you can expect to hear lots of songs from that album as well as some old favourites. Check out their latest video for their track Strike!
Kuolemanlaakso – Roll The Dice With The Devil
Well, you’ve probably been living under a rock if you haven’t seen me talking about Kuolemanlaakso in the past, given how awesome their latest album Tulijoutsen was, so it shouldn’t be any surprise that this latest offering is also top notch. Taken from the upcoming solo album from the band’s guitarist/keyboardist/lyricist Laakso (indeed, Kuolemanlaakso originally started out as a solo project for him), Roll The Dice With The Devil features English lyrics and showcases a softer edge to Kuolemanlaakso, whilst still channelling the darkness inherent in the “full band” releases. Keep your eyes peeled for our review of the album coming up in the next day or two!
Mustan Kuun Lapset – Kuolemanvirta
It’s been a while since Mustan Kuun Lapset released anything new, but they’re back with their new EP Kuolemanvirta and we were lucky enough to watch them launch it at Nummirock in Finland a few weeks back. The title track, along with the rest of their performance, kicked some serious ass and what was great about their set was the fact they didn’t need theatrics to be great – it was simply the band having a great time onstage and the crowd loving it! Hopefully it won’t be too long until I get the chance to see them again.
Sathamel – Eternal Hunters
Another band that has really impressed me recently is the fantastic Sathamel, who I saw a few nights ago in Liverpool supporting Hecate Enthroned. There was something so enthralling about the band, and the way they connected with one another and the crowd was fantastic – it really made the show all the more engaging as a result. Eternal Hunters is taken from their debut self-titled EP and is a mighty little track. Hopefully we can expect more of the same when it comes to their upcoming full-length (which they’re set to record in November this year)!
Schemata Theory – Horror Show
And last, but certainly not least, is the latest video from Schemata Theory for their track Horror Show. A nice blend of passionately delivered melodies, both from the vocals and instruments, this will soon have you singing along before hitting you with a hard-hitting harsh and heavy section. Make sure you check out the accompanying video too – the visuals are pretty stunning!
