CD

Like the barbaric grunt of the beast chewing upon traditional Black metal then spewing forth the ‘UGH’ soul of Celtic Frost with a murky bile of down tempo doom and primeval hypnotic drum battery followed by the gnashing of teeth, bristling of fur and strike of tail true to Black metal’s savage, aggressive, obscurity.

In the secluded wilderness of northeastern Finland, a solitary journey has taken shape. Sielue, the latest endeavour of multi-instrumentalist Janne Posti (Häxkapell, Sons of Crom), marks a profound return to his musical roots, as he steps beyond his metal and classical foundations to explore the realm of dark acoustic folk.

 “Askel tyhjyyteen” (‘A Step Into Emptiness’) is a collection of diverse songs woven together by themes of life and death. Drawing on his classical training in piano, vocals, composition, and arrangement, Janne crafts intricate melodies where acoustic guitar and piano take centre stage.

The album captures the desolation and solitude of the wilderness surrounding Posti’s family cabin, embodying autumn winds, dense fog, and the haunting resonance of a freezing lake – the ‘singing ice’ recorded shortly after his initial writing session on All Hallow’s Eve in 2022. Song structures range from traditional verse-chorus formats to linear compositions, reflecting Janne’s eclectic musical background across metal, rock, pop, jazz, folk, and classical genres.

“Askel tyhjyyteen” is more than an album; it is a personal testament and a spiritual journey. It invites listeners to embrace the longing for another plane of existence and the beauty found in the acceptance of mortality. In stepping into emptiness, Sielue embarks on a journey that doesn’t end at the grave but begins there – into the winds of the cosmos, guided by swans through a portal to a place of peace and fulfilment

ULTHA's debut record features four epic songs of dark, moody Black Metal somewhere between the traditional Scandinavian school and a more contemporary US-Black Metal approach. “Pain Cleanses Every Doubt” is for fans of Ash Borer, Xasthur, Leviathan, Christicide, Blut Aus Nord and Watain.