Brilliant songwriting and impeccable performances make Langennut a work of near perfection, brevity its only flaw. Otherwise, every detail is exquisite and charged with energy. Killer melodies abound, like the insanely gorgeous ones in "Kivinyrkki," notably that of its pre-chorus, or the off-kilter one in the chorus of "Suden Sylissä." The polyrhythmic bottom end is thunderous, the keys a tasteful augmentation, the guitarwork stylistically varied and spirited, with inventive syncopations and rhythms. Airut's virtuostic metal and rock leads and their riffing are reminiscent of Scar Symmetry, the closing moments of "Orkideahauta," for example, recalling those of "Deviate from the Form," while "Aamen" has a 70's-style solo and "Lyijykyyneleet" a slithery lead à la Per Nilsson. Comparisons are more elusive, however, when it comes to Antti Simolin's vocals. With his explosiveness, throaty yelling, crooning, passion, and gift for nuance, he's somewhat like a cross between Stam1na's Antti "Hyrde" Hyyrynen minus the motor-mouth tendencies and Amorphis/Sinisthra frontman Tomi Joutsen with clearer enunciation and slightly less ferocity. But that fusion yields only a faint approximation of Simolin's vibrant timbre, its uniqueness one of the main reasons Airut's sound was firmly imprinted in my brain after only a first listening to their demo material.

Matching the perfection of the album's individual elements is their integration with one another, which is remarkable considering how varied the songs are. Even surprises like the "Eye of the Tiger" opening of "Suden Sylissä" and the scratchy, pedal steel-like sounds at the start of "Rengit" feel organic. Everything works contextually, each detail dynamically positioned, timed, and segued. Combined with shrewd song-sequencing, this results in a masterful orchestration of tone, feel, and tempo within songs and on the album as whole, which is key to Langennut's special vitality. In only a handful of bands have I found anything like this type of energy, among them Airut's countrymen Tuoni, Russian progressive melodic death metallers Hatecraft, and the aforementioned Scar Symmetry. None of these, however, maintain that feeling so omnipresently or offer the kind of gut-level stimulation and emotional power Airut do. With music so diabolically seductive, it's no wonder one online dealer blurbed Langennut with this well-founded promise: "Order and fall in love!"

written by Maud

Playing time: 36:20