IKU-TURSO - Pakana
Wolfspell Records
Well it's always cool to hear some black metal from the pagan vastlands of Finland. OK sure their vocalist is Dutch but in the greater overview it's always good to hear some pagan black metal. Especially in this band's case because they're old school influence abounds.
This is the second full length by IKU-TURSO, a band who's been around since 2017. It's my first time hearing their music and honestly it's been a damm good time. No surprise here that Pakana is a concept album. Most of the classic BM albums of the 90's were that and more. This one is about a journey into the unforgiving wilderness of ancient days and of the old Gods. Yeah we've been there before.
Sound-wise this is completely second wave black metal with some folk moments which are really cool. It has a duel influence going on. One is pure old school Finnish pagan influenced metal and the other is total Norwegian BM. Honestly the two should never meet but on here it works. In this instance I'm gonna name drop some familiar favorites like ULVER, early SATYRICON and MOONSORROW as influences on high here.
Aside from their folk approaches and subtle keyboard touches IKU-TURSO employ your standard blast beat, icy tremolo picked rhythms and one sick sounding screamer Lafawijn the Dutchman. I like how the keyboards are applied as a backdrop which keeps it from being symphonic. Song structures vary from rhythmic violence to more atmospheric melancholy. Interspersed between the vocal rasps are some spoken word parts as well as good ol' Finnish style gutturals and gang shouting. Oh well, someone broke out the vodka on that cut.
Pakana is everything for someone who has been listening to black metal since it's inception. I'm sure somebody with less than meaningful intentions could picked this apart like de-boning a chicken. Personally I find this release to be fantastic simply because it contains moments which remind me on why I still like black metal.
https://wolfspell.pl/
https://iku-turso.bandcamp.com/album/pakana
https://www.facebook.com/ikutursobm
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