Sotajumala, Teloitus

There’s something about a band letting loose in their native tongue that makes their music that much more evil. Perhaps it’s the unfamiliarity with the language that makes it seem so, or, perhaps they really are just that diabolical. At any rate, Finland’s Sotajumala tear through some serious death metal regardless of your country of origin.

Chugging riffs dominate the majority of this straight forward attack as a plethora of double bass rends your insides into non functioning mush. The rhythms on this album are beastly and unrelenting like an oncoming avalanche — leveling anything and everything in its path. The guitars on Teloitus shift from monstrous riffage to technical leads with a smooth precision. The lead vocals are pretty guttural and aggressive, and are often layered with higher end backing screams to create a rich, deep sound.

Tappaja Ja Tapettu
The opening track starts off with some driving, thrash fueled riffing as the drums and rhythm section get their shit moving along nicely. The pace picks up with a low growl around the 25 second mark before settling into a beefy groove of double bass and guitar hits. The vocals come in just before the one minute mark with chugging riffs. The backing screams add give the growls a nice layered dynamic. There’s an evil, distorted lead around the 2:50 mark that accompanies churning riffs and driving drums.

Arkku Vailla Vainajaa
Huge riffs keep the momentum moving like that previously mentioned avalanche of sound. Blasting drums kick in just before the 30 second mark and don’t let up for an instant. You’re neck will certainly be strained after listing to this song a couple of times in succession. I’m digging the layered vocals as well — they give the album a unique edge. The solo at the 1:40 mark is pretty slick as it soars above the driving rhythms.

Kuolinjulistus
A huge scream brings driving riffs and maniacally punishing drums as “Kuolinjulistus” gets going. Layered screams layer over creative drum work around the 40 second mark as the band settles into a churning march through hell. Make sure you stop head banging long enough to check out the mini lead around 2:20 and then the devilish one around 2:40.

Riistetty Viattomuus
The start to this one is all over the place with thick riffs, guitar squeals and creative drum work. It’s definitely an attention getter after the pummeling we’ve taken so far through the first three songs. The vocals feel much more guttural and dark as they come in before the one minute mark with lots of double bass and driving guitars. another sick lead shreds around the 2:55 point in this one. I love the monolithic riffs that dominate the end of the song.

Verellä Kirjoitettu
It’s full on attack mode with the start of “Verellä Kirjoitettu” as the drums hammer you about the head and shoulders with repeated blows. The guitars do their best to keep up with the drums, slicing and dicing as they go. There are several tempo shifts, but that unrelenting double bass is consistent throughout the track.

Oikeutus
This next one starts out with some great groove as the riffs and drums combine for head banging fun. Hell, there’s even an opening lead within the first 30 second that brings in the guttural vocals. Man, this is a maniacal track, stalking you around the room like a blood thirsty madman with a ball peen hammer in each hand. The lead at the two minute mark is the point at which he attacks.

Kidutus
Evil guitars and the marching cadence of Hell’s demon army greet the listener with the start of this next track. I love the chugging pace this one has as the vocals come into play. I can’t get get enough of the drum work on this album — the dude has some serious skills.

Teloitus
The title track rounds out an instant classic in the death metal realm. It starts of massive drums and evil guitars, but quickly settles into a bone splintering rhythm. The slower pace to this one gives the track a darker feel, yet is combined with plenty of groove when Sotajumala pick up the pace here and there. This thing is a brooding monster in the dark corners of your closet just waiting to bust out in a violent attack.

~ ~ ~

Man, this was one hell of a bludgeoning listen. Thick, straight forward riffs shift to dark, sinister leads at the drop of a hat as the rhythms pummel you into submission throughout the entire disc. This one gets going aggressively from the start and never lets up until the disc has finished spinning. I highly recommend this one.

Favorite Tracks:
All of them

Additional Notes:
N/A