For a bunch of progressively tinged rogues that have been around since 2004, the Finnish metal outfit, DAMNATION PLAN, has somehow managed to stay under my radar. Yeah, I probably saw their name scribed on the wall of a bathroom stall somewhere once, because it vaguely rings a bell, but I never bothered to check them out until now. Shame on me! Set for release on September 8th, 2023, via Inverse Records, their third studio album “The New Horizon” really does fire on all cylinders! The band’s modus operandi has changed slightly from the previous effort, “Reality Illusion,” released in 2017; their second vocalist Tommy Tuovinen of MYGRAIN has since left the band, ushering a new clean-vocals-all-through approach. Vocalist Asim Searah, who took over all the vocal duties, has a signature heavy-metal sound that is both powerful and nicely recalls Roy Khan‘s vocal contributions with KAMELOT here and there. There has also been a line-up change in the bass department, as Jaakko Nikko replaced Jukka Vehkamaa when the band started recording this new endeavor. Perhaps it’s too early for me to say, as a fresh convert in the parish of the band’s fanboys, whether or not these changes have been the exact secret ingredient that makes the album pack a good punch – but it surely does.
The title track does the honors of setting things in motion. Resonating with the air of old-school heavy metal, the song’s intro is quite lengthy by today’s standards; you probably won’t mind. Right off the bat, the song rolls out pristine guitar riffs layered with some epic synths. So, when the vocals eventually join in, all is set for hitting a home run. Halfway into the song, the cinematic solo section traverses into Phrygian sonic realms rather nicely. By way of introducing me to the band’s music, the choice of song could not have been much better: This is pretty damn excellent! The song condenses the band’s strengths down to a tee – quality riffs, a little bit of Middle-Eastern flavor, epic synths, and powerful vocals to top it all off!
In a way, this album could have been released either in 1984, 1997, or 2009. Sure, the production is remarkably different from those really old heavy-metal classics but the songcraft draws from the same, tried-and-true tenets of the ancient ones – good riffs and strong melodies; the wall of guitars is particularly immersive, too, which is a tell-tale sign that we’re talking about a modern metal album here. On the same note, these ruffians season their songs with a good pinch of progressive twists and turns, too, without sounding too artsy – just like in the old days. In terms of complexity, I would put DAMNATION PLAN maybe halfway between RAINBOW and MASTODON. They sound epic but in the good old-fashioned meaning of the word.
Each of these five songs uses this same formula, and the absolute stand-out track is the video single, “Under the Veil of Sea.” Like the title track, it is an 8-minute epic with cinematic soundscapes, banging riffs, and some haunting Middle-Eastern flavor (this time most prominently used in the vocal department). I cannot help it but if the lyrics go on about some ancient spirits and the riffs drop to those delicious flat seconds every now and then, I’m sold – every time. Yeah, such conduct is an awfully vintage and tradition-savvy thing to do but it just works, so why the hell not? This song needs to be added to my heavy-rotation Spotify list that’s for sure; it kind of stole the limelight from the others, so I probably need to give them some due attention as well.
For a full-length, “The New Horizon” is remarkably short with its moderate 33 minutes; you might think this sort of album length would be more appropriate for an EP. Then again, perhaps it is exactly this shortness that makes the selection so powerful; although tipping the scales slightly away from the radio-friendly single lengths, clocking in at 6 or 7 minutes, these few songs are consistently tight and straight to the point. The lyrics come off as personal reflections on these dark times and the music fits these sentiments pitch-perfectly. I don’t know how I could have missed such a great band but, from now on, I’m going to have to keep a keen eye on this bunch.
Written by Jani Lehtinen
Tracklist
- The New Horizon
- Dreamdead
- To the Sun
- Under the Veil of Sea
- Emotional Trials
Lineup
Asim Searah – vocals
Kalle Niininen – guitars, additional synths
Antti Lauri – lead guitars
Jaakko Nikko – bass
Jarkko Lunnas – drums, additional synths
with guests:
Jussi Kulomaa – keyboards on tracks 4 & 5
Jari Pailamo – keyboards on track 1
Label
Inverse Records
