Release Date: August 11th 2023. Record Label: No Profit Recordings. Formats: CD/DD
Tyhjiö: Tracklisting
1. Kivi Puhuu (The Stone Speaks)
2. Tyhjiö (The Void)
3. Torajyvä (The Ergot)
4. Kärpässilmät (Fly Eyes)
5. Ataraksia (Ataraxia)
Members
Jonne - guitar, vocals, keys, effects
Antti - guitar
Topi - bass, backing vocals
Aatu - drums, percussion
Review:
Tyhjiö is the debut album from Psychedelic Death/Doom/Sludge Metallers KITA who also bring elements of Thrash, Punk and Prog Metal for their debut album that allows this to be quite an experimental release. Throw in some weird trippy moments of Electronica and even hints of Film Scores which make KITA quite an extraordinary band in their own right. KITA takes creative solitude with bands such as UFOMAMMUT, TOOL and ISIS with the Post-Metal and Progressive Sound of those great bands feeling right at home with the Death Metal charge that the album contains. However, this is mostly a dark and experimental take on Psych Doom/Sludge Metal that is spread across five tracks.
The first track of Kivi Puhuu (The Stone Speaks) is a haunting and ambient based track with KITA exploring the more Progressive realms of Death/Doom Metal with the Sludgy grooves having a more melodic style with buoyant gloomy Psychedelic energy. The vocals are sung in the band's native tongue and allows the band to have a mysterious quality to their music. The song is more Atmospheric based on the later stages of the track with the more thrashy beatdowns becoming part of the creative sonic journey KITA undertaken for this track and the whole album.
Second track Tyhjiö (The Void) offers a more direct style of Thrash/Death Metal with soaring Psychedelic and Sonic sounds becoming more Post-Doom and Post-Rock inspired along the way. The vocals have small amounts of Shamanic chanting before returning to that classic style of Death Metal based Harsh Growls. The Ambient rhythms and Psychedelic grooves become more commonplace with KITA injecting a Tool-esque energy into the album. The track does become more uplifting in places but the violent mood that KITA operates with returns quickly and with violent ferocious energy. Instrumental work is intense and wonderfully varied with KITA playing a multitude of different Metal styles that showcase what a hugely talented band KITA actually are.
Third song Torajyvä (the Ergot) blends TOOL creative mythology with the cosmic dynamics of UFOMAMMUT but with a more Psychedelic and Tribal flourish. Electonica based scores appear periodically and soon leave without a trace with KITA adopting a more Thrash Metal approach with a Progressive Doomed Out sound. The sludgy atmosphere allows KITA to play a more mind-expanding style of gloomy Post-Metal with violent and chaotic vocals matching the unpredictable sound of the music. Thrashy breakdowns and beatdowns are used for dramatic effect but everything works as it should with KITA providing one of the standout tracks on the album.
The final two tracks of the album Kärpässilmät (Fly Eyes) and Ataraksia (Ataraxia) offers nineteen minutes of pure Prog Metal/Sludge Metal dynamic creative energy with the music adding keys into the mix especially on Kärpässilmät (Fly Eyes). This part of the album is perhaps more Death Metal based but there's still a lot of Doom/Sludge Metal gloominess to unpack and decipher on these tracks with KITA embracing a more Cosmic side to their music. The thrashy beatdowns and breakdowns is what allows this album to truly flourish with even a subtle Hard Rock energy appearing. Constantly moving further into a Prog Metal backdrop on Kärpässilmät (Fly Eyes). Vocals remain aggressive and Death Metal based which remains one of the main strengths of the album. This allows KITA to have a truly volatile "FORCE OF NATURE'' essence to their music.
Tyhjiö is a dynamically powerful and unpredictable album that is perhaps more extreme compared to other Psychedelic Doom/Sludge Metal albums currently being released. However, KITA have a truly original sound of their own which could endear them across the multiple underground scenes within the Doom, Sludge and Death Metal communities.
I say embrace the violent chaos of this album and you will pleasantly be surprised by what you hear. As this is a stunning album with sublime production values throughout.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to No Profit Recordings for the promo.
I'm excited to premiere KITA's new song and video for Tyhjiö below from the upcoming album of the same name.
Tyhjiö will be available to buy on CD/DD via No Profit Recordings from August 11th 2023.
KITA Links:
Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
