Kryptamok - Verisaarna
"Verisaarna" (2020) delivers opening energy with power chords acting as the force, rather than some lead or synthy-opening. These elements are often grand, but Kryptamok’s powerful simplicity is their strength. The tremolo picking with texture and emotions mixed throughout the album, this is a band that gets to the point quickly and yet does not bore at all.
For instance, the second track, 'Apokalypsin Epilooki' brings in layers of blast beats, with rhythm changes by the guitar as well as even a dead top and drum re-intro halfway through. The effect is to avoid sleepy BM stylings and, of course, make the track more fun. The last minute of the track changes again, slows down, adds some keyboards, and the guitar is strummed more slowly, which adds a very emotional section before tightening up toward the end of the track. Fabulous.
The fourth track, 'Susien Äitee', changes it up again with its power chord plus riff opening, done 4 times through, before getting into a zone of pretty tight picking and riffing through the track. The second half of this track loses that texture as it melds back into the sonic atmosphere of the album, but that opening was pretty decent.
The fifth track, 'Pimeyden Tyrann' is good, but it also has a Satyricon flavour at the opening, which I did not expect. Before long, the rhythm changes and power chord style we come to expect dominates the track – in fact, the album, to the end. I do like the slowdown and the strange etheral vocal thing layered in. The ending of this track returns to that Satyricon-style riffing.
The album’s title track, 'Verisaarna' follows the powerful BM tremolo style of the rest of the album, but it throws in a melodic guitar line or two that is not used too much in the album. In addition, the track, moving to its middle section, changes the flow a little before going to the power chord style of the album – and then ends deliberately, as opposed to just fading out. I liked that just because it shows intentionality.
Overall, "Verisaarna", is a really well-functioning BM style album. It is neither splashy nor boring but built to work in the style.
4 / 5 STARS
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2. Apokalypsin Epilooki
3. Saastan Rekviemi
4. Susien Äitee
5. Pimeyden Tyranni
6. Rottien Reformaatio
7. Tämä On Enne Ja Kuolema Sen Lupau
8. Verisaarna
