If there is a band that delivers catchy riffs and melodies, smashing transitions, massive drums, impressive growling and screaming, and smooth clean vocals, it’s MY FAVOURITE NEMESIS. Actively playing since 2017, the band hasn’t stopped showcasing its potential through their versatile-sounding songs, not even for a moment. It is no surprise that this Finnish modern metal act was recognized by the American record label Seek & Strike, and got signed to it in December 2022.
Following their first EP, “Dark Room” (2017), and the two albums, “Rift” (2022) and “Eidolon” (2023), MY FAVOURITE NEMESIS continued their creative momentum by releasing their newest EP, “We Annihilate I,” on April 26th, 2024. All of their music is incredibly inspiring to me, but let’s focus on “We Annihilate I.” This EP delivers a combination of faster and slower, dark but groovy-sounding songs, epic growling, beautiful singing, mixed sounds, and meaningful lyrics. In contrast to many other Finnish bands, MY FAVOURITE NEMESIS stands out by sounding highly international, a quality evident in their latest EP as well. “We Annihilate I” provides the listener with impressive instrument sound mixing, high-quality video production, and a lot of talent from each band member.
The EP opens with the title track, a song that will excite you with its changing tempo, from a mid-fast opening riff to a slower chorus, speedy double bass drums in the middle, and a soft guitar outro. What’s more, Janne Piela’s and Sanna Solanterä’s growling blends so well together that it can take some time to realize it’s done by two people. Besides being amazing at this vocal technique, Sanna’s singing nicely complements the guitar solo at the end, giving the song a satisfying finish. The accompanying video, produced by Petri Inkinen, a creative Finnish video producer of Guilty Visuals, beautifully completes this piece with its dark and bright visual effects.
Continuing with the next track, “A Paradox You Seek,” I first notice the smooth transition between the easy-going guitar intro, soon after hit by Piela’s outstanding screaming, followed by Sanna’s soothing singing voice. Digging deeper, I can’t overlook the lyrics without mentioning them, as they seem to carry a deep meaning. I would leave it to you to interpret them in your own way, but in any case, they surely resonate with a lot of people. The video focusing solely on both vocalists performing the song, combined with contrasting red and black visuals, feels easily comprehensible and attractive.
The unexpected start of the next EP song, “Corporeal Husk,” comes with beastly energy and a dynamic melody. Since MY FAVOURITE NEMESIS offers something for everyone in this track, whether they enjoy ballads or harsh vocals, “Corporeal Husk” is probably spot on for all. Sanna‘s vocals predominates here, creating a calm atmosphere and allowing us to dive into it. An interesting change in the tempo and rhythm of the song can’t go unnoticed, though a chill-out solo comes in later and keeps the mood balanced.
A faster melodic song follows, called “Chimera.” Smashing growling on top of energetic addictive riffs makes you want to listen to it all over again. Crossing the first half of the song, a short guitar solo by Joel Aav enters smoothly without disrupting the speed, which remains consistent before and after it. The double bass drums by Valtteri Estola blow me away with their intensity every time I listen to “Chimera.” I can say that the song’s video represents the members in their genuine and real attitude on stage, as I saw the band live, introducing the EP “We Annihilate I” for the first time in Helsinki this May.
Last but not least, is the closing track, “Blind.” It’s a slower and pleasingly flowing piece, which gives us a chance to clearly hear the wonderful blend between both lead vocalists’ voices again. In my humble opinion, the nicely executed guitar solo plays an active role in the song and strongly contributes to the overall feel. As I always pay attention to lyrics and find them important, I believe the title choice fits perfectly with the idea behind the track and what it conveys.
To conclude, through “We Annihilate I,” MY FAVOURITE NEMESIS demonstrates lots of creativity and passion for meaningful songs. Even though I can’t decide which track is my favorite among all five, I would rate “We Annihilate” and “A Paradox You Seek” the highest. Whether you enjoy heavier or lighter metal music, this dynamic EP effortlessly offers you a range of songs to choose from. Altogether, the melodic riffs are always there to get you hooked, so you don’t need to worry about switching to another YouTube or Spotify channel!
Written by Stephanie Vasileva
Tracklist
- We Annihilate
- A Paradox You Seek
- Corporeal Husk
- Chimera
- Blind
Lineup
Janne Piela – Lead Vocals
Sanna Solanterä – Lead Vocals
Joel Aav – Rhythm/Lead Guitar
Janne Suominen – Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals
Santeri Shemeikka – Bass
Valtteri Estola – Drums
Label
Seek & Strike
