Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Verjnuarmu
Label: Dynamic Arts Records
Released: 2008
Running time: 42:00
Rating: 1.5/5
Finnish outfit Verjnuarmu play savo metal. What the hell is that, you ask? Savo is a Finnish dialect spoken in a small area in the east of the country, and the guys, of course, sing in it. That’s carved them out their own little market niche, sure, but the dialect is also the only thing setting them apart from other bands in the genre.
The Finns formed in 2001, put out three demos over the next few years, and dropped their debut in 2006. Three years later we get album number two, with a title that’ll tie your tongue in knots: Ruatokansan Uamunkoetto. So what does the new record bring to the table? A good forty minutes of melodic death metal with the occasional heavy metal influence. Which means you know what’s coming: tons of double bass pedal on the drums, catchy “sing-a-long” choruses, melodic riffs, harmonic passages and plenty of shredding. But there’s absolutely nothing here that sets Verjnuarmu apart from other similar bands. Except for the language, which backfires, because it feels like the guys wrote their lyrics in savo just to stand out from the pack. Okay, they sort of pulled that off, but they’re miles away from offering even a shred of originality or spark in the way of ideas nobody’s heard before. All you get is an average blend of epic melodic death metal in the vein of Korpiklaani, occasional vocal parts that strongly recall Tyr, and frequent “folky” bits that, naturally, remind you of fellow countrymen Korpiklaani. To top it all off, the thin, hollow production makes it worse, since it never hits where it should.
With their second record, Verjnuarmu offer nothing new or shattering, and whenever an interesting passage does pop up, a déjà vu feeling of having heard it all before quickly creeps in. And honestly, we’ve heard everything the Finns have to offer from countless other “folk” metal bands. Verjnuarmu badly lack something that would set them apart from similar bands, and sadly, the second album doesn’t suggest the guys will find it anytime soon. And a rare language alone isn’t enough to make something new and unheard-of.
Lineup
Puijon Perkele – clean vocals
Viitakemies – guitar, backing vocals
Tervapiru – guitar
Woema – bass
Musta Savo – drums, harsh vocals
Production
Tero Holopainen and Verjnuarmu
Track list
1. Tulesta Pimmeyven
2. Kuu Paestaa, Kuollu Ajjaa
3. Mustan Virran Silta
4. Luita Ja Hampaeta
5. Surmatun Säkkeet
6. Huaskalinnut
7. Kuhtumattomat Vieraat
8. Kirkkomuan Kansoo
9. Räähähenki
10. Kalamavesj’
