Tag Archives: Inverse Records

Northern Genocide traces its roots back to Helsinki, Finland in the year 2010. Forging a sound of Modern Melodic Death Metal, they have spent well over a decade honing what that means to them. Lyrically, they explore dark topics, like overpopulation, pestilence, and other human flaws. As with many bands exploring the plague that is humanity, they take no prisoners in their criticism of how the human race is their own worst enemy. At this point in history, that man has likely killed more by their stupidity and greed than in the name of religion. Take a trip through this darkness and see what could be in store for the next generation. Northern Genocide will be that tour guide.

Jo Below is one of those bands that you read about and question what you just saw; Southern-Fried Blues Hard Rock from Finland. Go ahead, read that again. With a sound that crosses into 70s-inspired Classic Rock on a whim, the four of them bring back something old and make it new again. This is like Fleetwood Mac meets The Outlaws with some Stevie Ray Vaughn sprinkled in for good measure. This EP has a killer groove to it with catchy guitar hooks and rhythms that you can move to. It is amazing to hear modern tunes inspired by music from 50 years ago sound so fresh. See, Finland isn’t all Black Metal and corpse paint. Jo Below shows the musical culture there is as diverse as anywhere in the Metal Realm.

Coventhrall is a Finnish Power Metal band with a love of science fiction and epic storylines. This album has space pirates, and who doesn’t love that? With a narrator and multiple vocalists to create more of a Metal Opera style concept album, this album has layers of sound in both the vocals and the instrumentation. Three guitars and keyboards give this an atmospheric feel worthy of being set in space. Formed in 2005, they’ve had a steady lineup for most, if not all, of their existence, something that is not as common as it used to be. I can only assume this is part of why they sound like a single, solid unit as a band, they know who they are, and believe in their identity. Dive into this and you will hear that also.

Abandon All is a five-piece Heavy Metal band from Finland. The Strong EP is their compelling follow-up to their debut album, Far Away (2023). It explores empowering themes, celebrating friendship, and navigating toxic relationships. With faster, more direct tracks, Abandon All maintains its distinctive sound, delivering an EP that transcends boundaries and amplifies the essence of inner strength. Female-fronted, this dynamic band captivates on more than just the massive voice of their lead singer. Powerful rhythms and rock-solid riffs are woven together by elegant lead guitar work, providing a stunning soundscape to augment the voice and deliver these timely, relevant messages.

Cryptosis has a sound that defies expectations and limitations with equal intensity. A dizzying blend of visceral extremity, symphonic pomp, and wild, progressive invention showcase a supremely passionate band with a unique and ingenious take on metal’s amorphous rudiments. Elements of Blackened Death, Progressive Thrash, and Grandiose Symphonic Metal are all present and correct, but Cryptosis has combined them in an exhilarating, unprecedented new form that promises to satisfy on both the primal and cerebral levels.

Finnish four-piece Modern Melodic Death Metal band Volucrine is set to release their fourth full-length album, ETNA this month. Focusing on the human experience and the challenges of merely existing in this age, they craft songs that use both clean and harsh vocals together with catchy riffs and heavy rhythms to get their point across. Formed in 2014, they have built a following for both their brutal records and killer live shows, taking the heaviness to a new level with stage shows known for their energetic performances. With a decade of experience under their collective belt, they have figured out who they are and how they want to sound, crafting a unique tone with both the instruments and words.

Gothony is a five-piece Finnish Drama Metal band formed in 1993. They released a couple of demos in the 90s and then took an extended hiatus, re-emerging in 2019. After more than 30 years, their debut full-length album is arriving! Gothony uses vocal layering and backing voices to create a depth of vocal sounds meant to accentuate the songs in multiple ways. Meanwhile, the music is a creative mixture of different Metal disciplines, including, but not limited to, Death, Power, Thrash, and Cinematic Metals.

Weightless World is a Progressive Metal band from Finland formed in 2011. Heavy on the Progressive end of the Metal spectrum, they bring in elements of Power and Metalcore and even edge pretty close to Speed Metal at times. They use clean and harsh vocals, mixed in with the backing vocals to create a larger-than-life set of voices capable of taking their songs to a new level.

Founded in 2017, Darkness Is My Canvas calls Helsinki, Finland home. DIMC is a Rock band that weaves in and around many additional styles, including Progressive, Alternative, and Modern Rock. With three of the members performing vocal parts, the is a lot of range to the delivery of the lyrics. Sometimes the voice is muted, sounding far away and almost haunted, other times you get an almost angry distortion to the voice. This gives the album a wide array of tones and textures, letting each song stand on its’ own merits. Added keyboards influence the sound, harkening back to the early 80s in some cases. If you are a fan of the arena rock era, you will likely love this album.

Blade is a five-piece Finnish Hard Rock band formed in 2020. Joker And Clowns is a 10-song album filled with catchy hooks and big riffs. Intricate guitar work pairs beautifully with the rhythms to create a quirky, fun set of songs. Blade brings a modern sensibility to some of the Classic Hard Rock sounds, bringing to mind the heyday of the 80s.