We often seek to bury the emotions that ravage the soul, the very storm birthed from the embers of anger and despair. However, there are those who look upon such essence, and like the sculpture who uses the crude elements to craft a tale in clay, so too does the artist with such energies. Emerging from this obsidian womb comes forth a work of art wherein the abyss of the soul lives and converses with us,and in return a metamorphosis begins, one where the consciousness transcends into the dreamscape of madness and ecstasy.
‘Tulesta syntynyt’ by Valontuoja becomes the conduit whereby the spirit transmutes its essence and from its transmission a journey is woven, one which plummets the sensation into a labyrinth of aural torment, yet it is through this baptism, beauty is uncovered. Drawing upon the ceremonial smoke of Black Metal akin to bands such as Blut Aus Nord and Miserere Luminis, Valontuoja creates a work of art that adds to this intoxicating flame.
The foundation of this album is built upon the esoteric spirit wherein melodies become the focal point for the mind to become intoxicated. The very dissonance exuded from the musical components give naught just a cacophony of spiraling energies , instead it is this cluster which bestows unto the senses a rather intimate yet visceral encounter. Tracks such as ‘Palaneiden kasvojen maa’ and ‘Ympyrä joka syö itseään’ are but mere morsels for the entire album should be devoured like the eucharist upon the tongue, where the very dissonance becomes the wine that merges with it. The guitars take on the skeletal structure, whereby an undulating tone is evoked, though melody is present, the notes converge into a transmission rather than music. In other words, the aura spoken forth by the strings renders itself unto the consciousness as a dialogue, a speech that heralds the descent of oneself into the catacombs of chaos. A hypnotic cadence is manifested through the copulation of both the strings and percussions, while the drums may not be as sonically audible in its expulsion, the rhythmic spirit supports the strings in giving unto the album a rather tangible feeling, as though you can taste the sulphurous essence upon the tongue, to smear its ashen texture upon the lips.
In one’s descent, where the cerulean skies become the ceiling, and the inverse of such abode becomes the dwelling, if a voice existed to capture this downward spiral, it would be the vocals. An unorthodox approach is undertaken here by the manner in which the speech is delivered. The vocals feel as though they are buried beneath the architecture, sometimes exhibiting quality to it. However, while this may seem like a negative to others, it’s quite the contrary here, for I believe that this acts as a strength. The album as a whole feels like a meditative experience and the vocals enhance such journey, as now the senses are forced to focus upon these energies, discern its shape,capture its essence and in turn coil and writhe to its rhythmic pulse.
Valontuoja creates a mantra to seduce the malevolent spirit that resides beneath feeble flesh, for when such aural worship commences, that which worships the void manifests itself as it rages against the light which bleeds.
