After releasing one of the best demos of 2023, the Finns in Kratti will return with their first full-length of the band’s carreer. To be released by Signal Rex on Walpurgisnacht, Kratti is ready to present ‘Matka Kohti Kosmista’.
Much like the demo, the music of Kratti might sound distinctly Finnish but without sticking to the most throdden parts. With a foundation based on the early days of Bathory, Ulver, Satyricon and Darkthrone as well as the Les Légions Noires scene from France, the shifting tonality of the band is closer to the likes of Clandestine Blaze, Musta Surma (and its predecessor Crimson Evenfall) and Warloghe. But while melancholy certainly is no stranger to the music of Kratti, the band’s sound isn’t nearly as suffocating as some of the aforementioned compatriots. Opening track ‘Pyhä Alttari’ is vile in pace, raw in nature, pulsating in rhythm and unhinged in its snarling vocal delivery. In this song Kratti boldly adds cosmic background keys that are rather minimal in presence and add a satisfyingly alienating element to the song. The shifting nature of the band’s riffs are highlighted in the subsequent ‘Haudanvartija’, while the acoustic riffs in the title track add an almost soothing element to the music. ‘Sota Viimeinen’ has an almost swinging melody to it and partially reminds me of a song like ‘Necromansy’ off of the infamous Bathory debut. As the song progresses, the shifts in pace show the band’s creative view on songwriting as well as their knack for not choosing the obvious without losing the essence of the song. This is once again highlighted in the out of the box riff progressions combined with the cosmic keys of ‘Ääni Hiljaisuuteen Katoava’, even though the song has some classic Norwegian riffs as well. With the closing track ‘Synkissä Muistoissa’ providing a more enthralling and hypnotising element to the record, Kratti rounds off the album by fulfilling the promise of their excellent demo with 31 minutes of highly captivating Finnish Black metal.
Kratti has all the rawness, the melodicism and catchiness, and the snarling intense vocals that we have come to love of the Finnish scene, but it by no means walks any common path. Despite uncommon riff progressions, pace patterns and alienating keys the songs are put exceptionally well, combining into raw Black Metal with authentic attitude and a familiar catchiness but refreshingly unique sound. Not your typical Finnish Black Metal band, but I thoroughly enjoy what the band is doing here!
Kratti
- Country: Finland
- Style: Black Metal
- Links: Instagram, Bandcamp, Youtube
