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Oranssi Pazuzu: Kosmonument
21/12/11 || gk
Finland’s Oranssi Pazuzu have been gaining some acclaim with their twisted take on black metal which includes psychedelia, electronic and kraut rock influences. 2011 sees the band release its second album, “Kosmonument” and business is pretty good.
The album starts with “Sienipilvi” which is dissonant and mid paced sludge with a steady, plodding rhythm that can get stuck in your head for days and various ambient effects swirling around like a stoner’s garnish. It’s successful in creating an unsettling atmosphere and sets the tone for the rest of the album. “Komeetta” is my favourite song on the album. A dissonant guitar riff sits over a groovy bass and drum rhythm and with the odd ambiance and electronic noises creates a song that’s strangely memorable. “Uusi olento nousee” starts off with a strong French black metal feel before slowing down to an almost funeral black crawl and is another good song while instrumental “Luhistuva aikahäkki” is a tripped out electronic heavy ambient piece that has great mood and a terrific slow burning build up.
There’s no doubt that this is some complex music with the bass often laying the foundation for these songs and the guitars employed more often than not to create atmosphere. The keyboards, whether adding odd noises or taking the song towards an electronica feel create a very effective layer giving the songs depth and the harsh black metal vocals are used sparingly but effectively.
Where the band stumble is when they rely too much on the repetition of riffs and drag songs past the 6 minute mark. Sure, constant repetition of a particular riff can lead to a hypnotic and often stoner friendly vibe but songs like “Andromeda” and “Kaaos hallitsee” seem to trying for an epic space rock feel but just end up being a bit boring while album closer “∞” seems like a pointless exercise with its meandering ambiance and ends the album in very underwhelming fashion.
Oranssi Pazuzu remind me of those weird mid and late 90s Norwegian bands like Ved Buens Ende, In the Woods and Atrox but with a much more pronounced black metal stance. “Komeetta” in particular reminds me of Norwegian avant-garde madmen Ved Buens Ende and this song could have easily been on “Written in Waters” while elsewhere on the album, the main riff on “Mavaaltimo” reminds me more of Japanese sludge band Boris than anything black metal.
If you’re open to the idea of a black metal band pushing the boundaries of the genre and attempting something different then there’s plenty to like on “Kosmonument”. Not all the ideas work but when it does, Oranssi Pazuzu sound quite special.
- Information
- Released: 2011
- Label: Spinefarm Records
- Website: Oranssi Pazuzu MySpace
- Band
- Jun-His: guitars, vocals
- Moit: guitars
- EviL: keyboards, percussion
- Ontto: bass
- Korjak: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Sienipilvi
- 02. Komeetta
- 03. Uusi olento nousee
- 04. Luhistuva aikahäkki
- 05. Maavaltimo
- 06. Siirtorata 100 10100
- 07. Andromeda
- 08. Loputon tuntematon
- 09. Kaaos hallitsee
- 10. ∞
