Kuolemanlaakso is yet another Finnish group which seeks a stripped down approach to songwriting, but not a new one, its members hailing from the ranks of groups like Chaosweaver, Barren Earth and such. The prevalent theme here is doom metal, but very well produced doom with a bold, brazen crunch to the guitars and a mixture of blackened rasp vocals, death grunts or mournful, ominous cleans, all in the native tongue. The first comparison which came to mind was Ajattara, though the focus here isn't so much on mug-swinging, blacker sounding grooves, and there are more atmospherics present to complement the simple, loping strides of the low, muted guitar passages. It's also similar to Tom G. Warrior's post-Celtic Frost outfit Triptykon, which Laakso has cited as the primary influence to this, even going so far as to hire on guitarist/vocalist V. Santura to produce this 8 track, 48 minute debut.

Tulijoutsen is the second full length album (and third release) from still relatively new Finnish death/doom band Kuolemanlaakso. In my opinion this album is better than their debut (the excellent Uljas Uusi Maailma) and very much worth purchasing. The sound and style isn't a huge departure from what the band established for themselves on their debut, but they have definitely grown as song writers. The band have implemented more atmosphere and dynamics into their music and it really takes things up a notch. A good example of this is the track Tuonen tähtivyö, which culminates with keyboards, female vocals and layered clean and extreme vocals. There is a simplicity and catchiness that makes this band memorable, and that is put to excellent use with Me vaellamme yössä. The song was released in an edited form on the band's EP Musta aurinko nousee and now appears in it's full form. The song definitely sticks with you with its groove and melodic lead riff.

Новый релиз гитариста Маркуса Лааксо. Наверное, его можно классифицировать как сайд-проект сайд-проекта Kuolemanlaakso. Как бы там ни было, Лааксо из привычного doom/death metal совершил переход к doom/gothic metal звучанию, которое раздавит целевую аудиторию сильнейшим ностальгическим чувством. Ибо The Gothic Tapes — это концентрат той финской готик-металической тоски 00-х, запавшей в душу благодаря музыке Charon, To/Die/For, поздних Sentenced и, конечно же, HIM и 69 eyes. Плюс Лааксо отдал дань уважения и атмосферным Tiamat, My Dying Bride и культовым Type O Negative, The Sisters of Mercy. Причем, Маркус знает чувство меры — этот релиз получился очень лаконичным, стильным, мрачным, без гротеска и перегибов.