Certain countries create a buzz in the metal scene just because of the breadth – and depth – of quality artists over the years. Arising in January 2020, Finnish band Northvoid started on their path to make themselves known, creating a fusion of melodic death metal from a groove-oriented, melancholic perspective. Their first independent EP Echoes from North came out in 2022 followed by a series of singles over the next two years to arrive at this latest EP Ember Remains, aligning with Inverse Records. For this scribe’s first exposure, expect a cascade of strong rhythms, layers of thoughtful clean accents that brilliantly expand the sonic horizons of the quartet as well as a mix of energy that rattles bones to the core, with growls / screams that punctuate the music in all the key, aggressive ways one would expect in this style.
Tremolo picking next to solid mid-tempo drumming pushes “Wilderness” into an immediate favorite status, the stunted progressive elements during transitions captivating more interest as the arrangement shifts between extreme to melodic doom/gothic heaviness, intriguing contrasts next to a carefully executed lead break from guitarist Markus Heikkinen that builds to a tremendous, note-holding payoff. Early Swedish death metal next to classic Slayer comes into focus for “Sun & Moon”, another stellar headbanging effort where the musical interplay from groove-oriented sections to upper gear, semi-blasting assaults provides vocalist Kimmo Timonen ample opportunity to flex his vicious roar in rhythmic symbiosis. When you want more of a commercial-laden groove template where the guitar, bass, and drums lock into an earworm parade a la Draconian Times-era Paradise Lost next to classic In Flames or Sentenced, dive deep into “Entrusted” as this is probably the standout cut. The additional keyboard parts add texture to the song, while drummer Timo Korkalainen sits into this comfortable rock-oriented tempo that’s never too flashy. The five songs fly by in eighteen minutes and change – leaving the listeners clamoring for more.
If you dig a mix of Amorphis, Insomnium, and the aforementioned In Flames, Paradise Lost, and Sentenced plus some American groove accents, Ember Remains will be an ideal addition to your collection from Northvoid. Fingers crossed that the follow-up is a full album, as these gentlemen possess the ability, creativity, and talent to go places.