If there is one Finnish metal band that should be way more popular than it is, judging by the nothing short of a pristine resume arching back to the mid-1990s, it is SARA, hailing from the Ostrobothnian small town, Kaskinen. After their initial odysseys in nu-metal and industrial realms while on the Kråklund Records roster in the early 2000s, the band settled for a somewhat more atmospheric sound in their Universal years, during which SARA released two timeless masterpieces – “He Kutsuivat Luokseen” (2006) and “Veden Äärelle” (2008). Their next album for Universal, “Se Keinuttaa Meitä Ajassa” (2012) reached further into the atmospheric realm, resonating with an almost postrockish aura. Since then, the band has refined their signature sound even further, so that on their new album “Hallava,” set for release on January 17th, 2025, via the band’s own label, you can hear the seemingly disparate influences of bands such as SLEEP TOKEN, VOLA, and HIM. Marking the milestone of being the band’s 10th studio album, overall, “Hallava” is the first to feature their new drummer Rami Rissa and it is also the first album to be produced by someone outside the band since 2011. Apparently, it was a good move since, once through the album, I am poised to dub this outing as one of the best Finnish metal albums to come out in 2025. Unless ODDLAND is going to release a new album this year, “Hallava” could very well be THE Finnish metal album of the year.
Released ahead of the full treat in November 2024, the third single off the album, “Hyvästi Kapteeni” sets things in motion with a haunting obituary for vocalist Joa Korhonen‘s father who passed away recently. This is not the first time Korhonen uses a song by which to remember someone who is not with us anymore but this is definitely one of the most haunting obituaries he has ever written. Maybe it stems from the stark contrast between the slow-crushing SLEEP TOKEN riffs and the atmospheric passages pierced by the poignant lyrics. In terms of balancing the darkness with the light, lyrics-and-riffs-wise, there is something in this song that churns the heart like “Constance” by SPIRITBOX did a few years ago.
The first single, “Valtameri Ovella,” was released in August 2024, accompanied by an AI-generated music video demonstrating the fragmentary and fragile nature of everything. While SARA tactfully refrains from deploying full-on prog-metal mayhem, the song resonates rather thickly with the air of VOLA‘s riff-heaviest efforts to date. The SARA single came out a few months before the latest VOLA offering, so when my CD junkie alter ego whispered in my ear, “Let’s buy the new VOLA album right away,” the more sensible me whispered back, ”We have VOLA at home already.” Jokes aside, SARA‘s new album should go down smoothly for those smitten with “Friend of a Phantom.”
The haunting melancholy of “Vaeltaa” harkens back to the sonic terrain of “Veden Äärelle,” with the riffs being perhaps a tad heavier than those in 2008. While the band no longer features a keyboardist, the song is practically driven by the interplay between the guitars (all three of them), the keyboard layers, and the ethereal vocals. All of the songs are – sometimes with the wall of distortion leading the way and, like in the case of “Massaharha,” with the spotlight aimed at the dreamy, postrock soundscapes.
Just the other day, a random post on social media claimed that a 10/10 album is essentially a catch-22 and that it is impossible to craft an album with absolutely no skippable tracks whatsoever. Well, I kindly advise this unsophisticated person to spend some time with “Hallava.” It is a straight-up 10/10 selection with not a single track to skip. Some tracks draw from the band’s long legacy more than others, like “Anhedonia,” for instance, and some cuts serve as further readings from the SLEEP TOKEN spellbook – I’m looking at you, “Lumo” and “Alku.” Then, “Ikuisesti” is an almost post-punkish take on the subject with its synth-driven verses. Finally, “Kun Kaikkeus Katsoo” unfolds like an ambient hymn with strings and all, bringing this sonic journey to an emotive close. SARA‘s new album is pure perfection from start to finish and that is not a matter of opinion but merely a plain, forceful statement of truth.
Written by Jani Lehtinen
Tracklist
- Hyvästi Kapteeni
- Valtameri Ovella
- Vaeltaa
- Massaharha
- Anhedonia
- Lumo
- Ikuisesti
- Alku
- Kun Kaikkeus Katsoo
Lineup
Joa Korhonen – vocals, guitars
Rami Rissa – drums
Tommi Koivikko – guitars
Antti Tuomivirta – guitars
Kristian Udd – bass
Label
Independent
