ALBUM REVIEW: Pakana – Iku-Turso

Finnish black metal. For many years now, this label has become synonymous with outstanding quality. Instantly recognisable in the same way that Norwegian, Swedish or Polish black metal can be, there has been a veritable surge of bands hailing from the small Northern European nation of late, mostly sharing certain common characteristics but still somehow managing to leave their own personal stamp on their work. From ground-breaking 90s legends such as BEHERIT and IMPALED NAZARENE, later heroes ARCHGOAT or SATANIC WARMASTER and through to current buzzwords KALMANKANTAJA, HAVUKRUUNU and WHITE DEATH, rarely a week goes by without a new project emerging and going straight to the top spots of avid listeners throughout the world. With this pedigree behind them, it is hardly surprising that IKU-TURSO are absolutely killer.

Pakana is the outfit’s second full-length following 2017’s The Great Tower, with two splits and an EP hatched in the interim. Interestingly, the band is classed as international, with vocalist Lafawijn hailing from the Netherlands. According to the group, “Pakana is a concept album of a Pagan protagonist’s journey at the unforgiving wilderness of ancient Kainuu in the days of the old Gods,” stressing that this album explores the more folky side of the IKU-TURSO’s second-wave black metal and namedropping influences as diverse as Norwegians SATYRICON, BURZUM and ULVER and compatriots MOONSORROW, among others.

One of the first elements that becomes immediately apparent upon delving into album opener Kuolematon is that the vocals have improved significantly since the debut. The slower sections back then were somewhat spoiled by feeble Varg-like whining, none of which appears here. A slow and atmospheric build-up of a track, the opener spreads IKU-TURSO’s cards on the table and serves to highlight their distinctly folky approach this time round. It also shows a more successful attempt to carve out their own personality, as opposed to The Great Tower which sounded straight out of 90s Norway.

Belum is up next with blast beats and keyboard aplenty, courtesy of Myrrys and the mysterious F. respectively, with Finnish gang-shouts making an appearance and skilfully threading a melancholic melody over the rhythmic chaos. Third track Ashes kicks in with the ominous bass tones of Ruto, who is fully audible at all times in another move that sets this band apart from most within the black metal genre, before breaking into a swelling guitar line by Sovereign that indelibly stamps the Finnish flag onto the proceedings. Another deep and detailed composition, already the record displays great replay value thanks to the multitude of layers at work here.

Ultionis boasts a guitar line that is colder than an ice age, setting into a steady march before introducing quasi-symphonic keys and chants in a nod to another of their homeland reference points, namely DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED. Fifth number Funus throws the listener through a loop yet again, consisting of a hypnotic and sombre crawl that is entirely unexpected albeit totally effective, and which works a treat to set up the second half of the album.

At 1:37, Suru is basically an interlude, consisting of a clean acoustic guitar and spacey chanting before the blackness returns on Wanderer, the atmospheric riffing and keys establishing a dramatic backdrop for Lafawijn’s rasps. Once again drinking from their local well of inspiration, IKU-TURSO manage to combine the aggressive with the beautiful in a way that sounds perfectly natural but which only the Finns can pull off to this level of perfection. Itse is nothing more than another interlude or possibly an intro for the last cut; at less than one minute in length, it begs the question as to why it was made into a separate track at all. Finally, Solace lives up to its name, as the flutes and generally uplifting vibe seem to herald a happy ending for the protagonist of this enigmatic tale.

Varied, lush and painstakingly crafted to fit a wide range of elements together into a coherent package with tonnes of replay value, Pakana is a beautiful album that deserves to place IKU-TURSO firmly on the radar of pagan and black metal fans in general. While never once crossing over into the treacherous quicksand of ‘party folk’ music, a little more speed and aggression wouldn’t have gone amiss towards the latter part of the record.

Rating: 8/10

Pakana is set for release May 15th via Wolfspell Records.

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