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{mosimage}The follow up album to his debut in 2006 puts this young but talented Finnish artist against on the scope!

Born in 1976, Koskinen, well known in Finland among other things for his collaboration with Kauko Röyhkä, features his second studio album; a work that flows divided into episodes that count how a day goes for different characters that see the world from different points of view.

Actually, opposite to the trend in Finnish music, full of melancholic and dark feelings, the album sounds bright and light, starting with the splendid Perjantaina and following with other notable tracks like Hevonen.The album has a certain ”hippie” energy from the 60s, and certainly is a fresh breeze into the present Finnish music scene. An enjoyable work, even more enjoyable if you understand/speak finnish to decipher the great lyrics.

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}Tiara aka Tiia Marjanen is here with her first studio album trying to make history and break through as the Finnish representative for Eurovision song contest. 

The young singer, born in Rovaniemi and resident in Helsinki, is nowadays one of the participants in the contest to choose the Finnish representative in Eurovision. Remember that since the victory of Lordi, Eurovision and everything around the contest has a big media coverage, so Tiara is the center of many looks nowadays in Finland.Taking advantage of this, here goes her first full-length album Manala. Rhythms very danceable with a lot of electronics in the background make the album suitable for the dance floors of the Finnish pubs. Sometimes she reminds me a bit of Maija Vilkkumaa, although I still prefer the vocal skills of the later. 

The album has some notable tracks like Jääkuningatar or Kolmiodraama, but in general I must admit that it is not my cup of tea. Too much predictable not adding much to the scene. The album sounds right, but the question is “was is needed?” I am sure Tiara will find her good legion of followers, and I must not less than praise the efforts of young singers that try to make their way into the competitive music scene, but maybe producers and people of the Finnish music industry would need to recycle their ideas if they do not want the pop-rock scene sound just like a repetitive sonata.

Rating 2/5.

{mosimage}The last hit in romantic comedies from Hollywood counts with a more than decent soundtrack

Taking into account that the movie is a romantic comedy, obviously do not expect to find grindcore here. But certainly the selection of songs is great, mixing some well settled names in rock and pop scene like R.E.M. , Talking Heads, The Cure or The Human League with pushing younger bands like Maroon 5 or Wilco.

The introductory I´d like to by Corinne Bailey Rae is an excellent way of starting the CD, and there are some other nice surprises like the inclusion of Last Goodbye sang by Scarlet Johansson, one of the actresses in the cast of the movie, a song that does not appear in the movie.Resuming, a good soundtrack that you can always use in a romantic dinner of if you invite someone special to share good moments with you (and a bottle of good Spanish red wine ;) )

Rating 3/5 

{mosimage}Putro, well known in Finland due to his belonging to Zen Café, goes solo with this debut album.

One thing that probably you must be aware of is that if you do not speak or understand Finnish, probably you are not going to enjoy this album. Putro, a very popular character in Finland due to his work with the great Zen Café, shows his strength in the lyrics composition. Elämä on juhla is an album very classic in the way of showing a musician, his guitar and a collection of intimate tunes where he cries his soul out. And Putro certainly is a great song writer… in Finnish. So if you do not master the language, it is difficult you are going to get something clear from this.

Otherwise, the album express the “Finnish melancholia” trademark, if not just listen to some tracks like Helismaa or Elämä on Juhla, so do not expect to feel like going to party after listening to this, even when its title is “Life is a party”, although some songs are a bit more light-hearted like On elettävä huolella. What you will find is acid and clever lyrics in Finnish, and a Samuli Putro that goes closer to your heart with a more personal work. Putro delivers nothing too surprising, but a good album nevertheless.

Rating 3/5.

{mosimage}The second studio album of this magical trio is out released by Rockadillo Records, and looks even better than the debut one! 

KTU  is composed by Americans Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn (they can ring a bell if you are a fan of King Crimson) and Finnish sound magician, accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen. Samuli Kosminen does not continue as active member of the band due to other compromises, but this is far from being an angry split up, because the musicians have kept contact and Samuli helped in the production of some of the songs of the present album. 

Maybe the album is more “easy-listening” than its predecessor. Although still improvised and creative, is also easier to understand and assimilate than 8 Armed Monkey. I personally enjoyed it very much, but you need a special atmosphere to listen to it, relaxed and meditative. 

If you are not a fan of experimental music, probably this album neither the rest of the material that KTU could offer is going to hook you up. But if you keep your mind and ears open to new musical experiences, this band can really bring you something fresh to add to your CD collection. I think more than reading this review, KTU is such a special band that you just need to give it a try and listen to it for yourself to achieve a real opinion. 

Rating 4/5.

Related articles:

Interview with Kimmo Pohjonen:

http://www.freemagazine.fi/content/view/893/152/

{mosimage}Frank Lero, guitarist of My Chemical Romance, features his alternative project that turns to be…”slightly” different… 

If the Emo fans of My Chemical Romance were expecting a little brother of the band with this new Lero´s project, they are going to have the disappointment of their lives. What you can listen here in this XO is pure grindcore, no more no less. No time for beautiful lyrics, but just screams of anger and discomfort with basically…everything. Lero shows his nastiest side, which is good and bad.  Good because he dares to break the rules and do the unexpected, when the easiest way would have been to continue with the same line than My Chemical Romance. Bad because honestly, I never liked the genre. I am a great fan of metal, but when the vocalist seem to bark more than sing…it is not my jam. 

This album is surely more aimed at fans of Napalm Death than fans of My Chemical Romance. If you are into hardcore punk and grindcore, this is for you. If not, beware that this can brutalize your ears! 

Rating 2/5.

{mosimage}A young but superb band that is bringing melodic metal scene into a new level in Finland! 

If in 2008 I was pleasantly shocked by Brother Firetribe, this 2009 could have not started in a better way about Finnish melodic music, because Free Spirit blew me up!With no idea of what I was going to find in the album, I got literally hooked up from the first guitar riff. It sounds basically squared; well produced, with an excellent instrumental work and with the great voice Sami Alho.

In many moments of the album, the band reminds me of Blind Guardian but in a more melodic way, although there are some other times when the band gets closer to a darker tone similar to earlier HIM´s tunes. It is difficult to choose a favourite song in the album, because almost all of the 11 that compose it stand up by themselves, but I would highlight the one that gives name to the record Pale Sister of Light and the absolutely fantastic Heroes Don´t Cry. 

If you are into AOR, you are going to love this one. And if not, it is never too late to explore the melodic side of metal. Superb! 

Rating 5/5.

{mosimage}Formed in 2007 and alter the success of their first single Pretty White Dress, it is about time to see the results of their work together with their first full length!

Although being the debut album for Marenne, their musicians are far from being just beginners. Zachary Hietala and Janne Tolsa come from legendary band Tarot, while Jukka Jylli is also an experienced musician who belonged previously to bands like Mannerheim.

Added to all this talent together, the cherry on top of t he cake is the marvelous voice of the female singer, Marenne. It is not easy to play epic metal with a female singer and not falling into comparisons with Nightwish, but certainly Marenne, although of course is close to the style of the previously mentioned, are able also to create their own atmosphere with riffs that drink from the British rock of the 70s.

The album sounds great, squared, measured and beautiful. Maybe nothing extraordinarily provoking or innovative, but very composed and balanced. Every track is a delight for the fans of melodic metal, and if I have to put a “but”, I would say that it is a pity that the record has only 10 tracks (but this seems to be the trend nowadays).

All in all, a very favorable first impression and a promising future for this new super talented band!

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}Finnish record company Spinefarm seems to be determined to provide us with a bunch of great records every month. Here comes the debut full-length for these 3 Finnish souls. 

The Souls are Jani Orpana in the guitar and vocals, Antti Takalo in the bass and Toni Orpana in the drums. The trio from Kymenlaakso is stepping firmly into the Finnish music scene with a notable debut work. Spinefarm records shows once more that is able to handle excellent bands that not only play metal. With their garage rock, The Souls are a nice surprise. Their start can remind you a bit to the Swedes The Hives in Wounded Soul and certainly you can notice some influence from the actual Swedish rock, but also a bigger scope that directs to the rock of the 70s. The album becomes more introspective and slower with the pass of tracks like in the relaxing Goodbye and has a sweet reminiscence to the sound of Hendrix in songs like Motherland. The next one Harder When I come Around has nothing to envy to their Finnish colleagues Flaming Sideburns. 

The Souls are a technically skilful band and all in all, a colourful album where every song adds something to the final result. Pretty recommendable! 

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}Also from Turku comes Masa Laine, aka Marty the Random Guy, featuring his new splendid debut album.

I have a special weakness for independent musicians who self-produce their debut albums. I have also struggled hard in life to do what I wanted, and I appreciate the effort of taking risks and releasing a record without the backing up of a big company. And if the record happens to be as good as this Hooks, then the effort is double worthy! Hooks offer a good collection of songs that wisely mix blues, folk and rock in a way that can remind you, overall in the introductory track also called Hooks, to Led Zepellin. But the album is not a hard rock album.

The rhythms remind you more a kind of garage-blues, dirty vocals, a man and a guitar weeping like in the touchy where the story ends, and resuming, a work that sounds fresh and spontaneous, simple but classy.

We know that Marty is nowadays looking for more venues to play all over Finland, so we wish him good luck and advise the promoters to give a chance to this talented artist. Audience won´t get disappointed!

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}The band from Turku release their second full-length full of good metal…and death.

Founded in 2003, this relatively unknown Finnish metal band should have a better destiny from now on with their newest release. Honestly, I have not listened to their debut album, so I cannot compare, so the analysis will be centered in this present Saturday Night Evil.

The album, being fair, is all but original. The style will remind you from the first guitar riff to bands like Nightwish or Evanescence. But technically, it is almost flawless. The sound is compact and the vocal skills of Ms Maya are delicious to hear. The tone of the lyrics is a bit darker than in the previously mentioned bands, with the topic of death always present in the album. Honestly, I do not think that it was needed to give such a big “dark” touch to the band, because the rhythms suit better with more epic and historical lyrics, but the result in any case is acceptable, and as a nice special surprise, they delight us with a cool version of the classic from Mike Oldfield Moonlight Shadow. Otherwise, pay attention to tracks like And you Cry or the bleeding guitar riffs of Dagon, and you will not get disappointed.

Deathlike Silence shows once more that Finland seems to be a never ending cradle for amazing metal bands. And hopefully the trend will go on for many more years!

Rating 4/5.