Riistetyt – Korppien Paraati
released on Riistetyt Records, 2014 (black vinyl)

Now into their 4th decade as a band, it’s almost unthinkable that Riistetyt could still be releasing hardcore punk records with any bite. But on Korppien Paraati, these long-running champions of the Finnish hardcore scene do indeed deliver with a record that is the obvious next step in their progression and still manages to bring a little new to the table so as not to sound like a desperate grab at past successes.

The current incarnation of Riistetyt has definitely had a healthy dose of metal present for over a decade (mostly in guitarist Vege’s strumming) but never enough to make this anything more than a punk band. While some songs chug forward, many feature melodic interludes and tempo-shift breakdowns and still others channel some of the concentrated hardcore fury of side project Ääritila. Opening track “Jälkeen Korppien Paraatin” starts in a very typical hardcore fashion for these gents, then stepping it up with a bit of Motorhead flourish in the chorus riff, an influence that makes several other appearances most notably in “Heil Amerika”. The intro to “Valhalla” almost channels Bolt Thrower for a few seconds before returning to the more distinctive speed-picking throughout the album. The B side opens with a riff that I almost thought was going to be Nausea’s “Inherit The Wasteland” for a second before it too returned to familiar Riistetyt territory.

Bassist and founding member Piise, who rejoined in 2008 to take over for his replacement Nappi (who later passed away in 2011, RIP) is able to work in some very fine moments of 4-string flair throughout these tracks. Any fan can see this is the same man behind the memorable bass sound on the jewel in Riistetyt’s crown, Skitsofrenia. He even manages to squeeze in a quick solo during the final breakdown of closing track “Garganta Do Diabo”. The only other remaining founding member, Lazz (who is also the only member who has appeared on every record), is visually more Brett Michaels than Sid Vicious these days, but his vocal delivery has only gotten grittier over the years and he’s shown no compromise in his approach or subject matter.

For all their experimenting with the formula, it doesn’t work 100% of the time. If anything, this record can feel a little long, with the less distinctive tracks starting to meld together, and some breakdowns that would have benefited from half as many bars or complete omission altogether. Much of the same can be said of their previous release Kuolonhymnejä from 2010, and if anything the band has since learned a few new tricks to the benefit of this record.

Self-released on Riistetyt Records (the second on their own label, following Kuolonhymnejä), the album comes on black vinyl in a grey on black pocket sleeve with gatefold insert featuring both Finnish and English translations of the lyrics. This is a solid release that while not a mandatory record by any means keeps these Finns on the map.

Axis Of Advance – Landline
re-released on Grief Foundation, 2008 (clear vinyl)

Landline was the debut offering by Axis Of Advance, a band that rose out of the ashes of Sacramentary Abolishment featuring 2/3s of the SA lineup plus the addition of “session” drummer J. Read. Like the Canadians do so well, this band straddles the line between death and black metal with a high level of proficiency. This 3 song EP (2 originals and a cover) may seem like something a band might release as a teaser, but this stands as a fine mission statement for what this band would set off to do, featuring sharp and ambitious songwriting and disciplined execution.

I was more familiar with Read and Vermin’s work in Read’s primary band Revenge, and followed the trail back to this re-release of AoA’s first output. While Axis Of Advance does feature the same ferocity of Read’s drumming in Conqueror and Revenge, the full range of tactics employed by AoA build a much broader foundation. The opening track “Curtailing Factors of Interference” is over 9 minutes (and the entire first side of the record), and unfolds as a tightly constructed tactical offense carried out with militaristic precision. Opening with a blasting assault, the track slows enough to shift its weight and then launches into a black metal whirlwind of razor riffs and Read’s trademark drumming. Throughout the course of this track as well as their other original “Structural Interpretation Via Superfluous Union”, we see the band switch up and drop in deployments of death metal breakdowns, doomed wardrum dirges, and frenzied bestial bursts.

As further testament to their technical prowess, the band concludes with a cover of “Re Animation” by classic Canadian thrash metallers Sacrifice, and is spot on in speed and intensity. This EP totals up to just shy of 20 minutes, but these are indeed all live rounds, no blanks to be found in this performance.

Originally released by Catharsis Records in 1999, this stake in the ground places them firmly at the vanguard of the Canadian black/death sound, marching forward and greatly expanding upon the works of their previous groups. This re-release comes on clear vinyl in a nice glossy cardboard sleeve with insert.