EP REVIEW: Surut – Surut

The first thing that stands when spinning this self-titled EP is how polished SURUT sound. This Finnish five-piece absolutely nail the style they are going for, making this an excellent debut to build upon.

Pulling together influences from blackgaze and hardcore, they build a cacophony akin to CONVERGE and DEAFHEAVEN battering each other black and blue. First wave black metal riffs cut through the production then swerve into discordant breakdowns, while Ville’s gravelly vocals glue everything together.

Vihollinen and Nousen make up the first half, leaning into the hardcore vibe with angular, violent glee. It’s intense and makes the listener crave the sweat and chaos of a live show. These two tracks sound like a band paying their dues. It’s well within the established genre boundaries and SURUT are doing it so well. The breakneck pacing of Vihollinen leaves you breathless but leads effortlessly into the chugging, metalcore stylings of Nousen.

Even so, you can hear the band easing into their own sound. Maybe it’s their proximity to the birthplace of the genre but they sound like a black metal band incorporating hardcore elements. Rather than the reverse that comes from their American counterparts. Closing tracks Häpeä and Palo maintain that aggressive edge but show some experimentation, with melodic moments breaking up the more punishing, frost-bitten sections. Extending the song length to more than six minutes each allows SURUT to provide a narrative, backed by a constant fuzzing guitar line.

This starts as a hardcore EP but Palo sounds like old-school black metal track played by modern-day fans. Few bands could navigate this kind of tonal shift and yet it sounds completely fitting for SURUT. There’s a risk that the description of these guys sounds derivative. It isn’t, yet the influences are there, and they come through clearly. The skill of this five-piece lies in not hiding these tributes but twisting and blending them into something completely their own.

It’s rare to hear a new band sound so surefooted. These four tracks from SURUT feel like a statement of intent and should make any listener excited for a full-length release.

Rating: 8/10

Surut is set for release on February 12th via Petrichor.

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