Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient.

Background/Info: Four years after their self-titled debut album the Finnish duo Kaarna & Kivelä are back on track unleashing their newest work.

Content: The album features four cuts with an endless title all in Finnish. Sound-wise Otavan Veret invites its listeners to join in for an abyssal sonic voyage throughout evasive- and chilling passages. The tracks have been built up with a real slow progression. It sometimes needs a while before the track is really entering into a higher dimension made of icy sound waves and tormenting noises.

+ + + : “Syvys” is not only an abyssal adventure into icy sound treatments, but the tracks also feel as a spider web that has been patiently build to capture innocent souls. The sound manipulations running through this ‘web’ are absolutely great for their diversity and impact of horror. Among the four cuts I especially recommend the second cut “Syvyysunien Sisällä Tasot Sulautuvat Harsopinnoiksi Joiden Läpi Hiukkaset Repeytyvät” for its oppressive sphere and visual appeal.

– – – : Both debut cuts are interesting and reaching a climax at the second track, but the two cuts left are less fascinating. So in the end I expected a bit more out of this work.

Conclusion: “Syvys” is a pleasant listening if you’re a fan of dark-ambient music, but even the biggest fan in the genre will have to recognize that a ‘pleasant’ listening is not enough to speak about a real ‘successful’ piece of music.

Best songs: “Syvyysunien Sisällä Tasot Sulautuvat Harsopinnoiksi Joiden Läpi Hiukkaset Repeytyvät”

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/otavanveret

Label: www.cycliclaw.com / www.facebook.com/cycliclaw