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Another hit for Adipocere Records! I don't know who is scouting bands for this label, but they have great taste. Finnugor are an international two-man project (plus guest musicians) that have produced a very fine album of symphonic, avant-garde Black Metal. I don't know if I'm getting into BM more, or if I'm just hearing better bands, but I really, really like this CD.

Finnugor play an epic, keyboardy brand of Black Metal broadly related to Emperor or maybe Ninnghizhidda. There are also some folky flourishes here and there, and a lot of atmospheric synth interludes. The songs are pretty long, especially the 10 minute plus monster "Astral Fornication", and the song structures are very complex and varied. There are some goth elements here, but Finnugor never forget the metal. There are some Hellishly cool riffs on this album, as on "Solar Eclipse", "Cosmic Nest Of Decay" and the extremely cool "Korg Polaris" – which has a monstrously catchy main riff that will stick in your skull like a nail. I have to say I have never heard a Black metal band that was both this progressive in their songwriting and so memorable. Most BM is pretty hook-free, and it takes several listens for anything to stick, but a lot of this stuck in my head after only one or two listens, and the more I hear it, the more I want to play it.

The cover art is pretty cool, with the wraparound on the back cover actually much more evocative and moody. Some of the interior art is really good. And I sure hope the chick who did the female vox on this CD really looks like her portrait. Ya-woo! The lyrics, despite some translation-induced awkwardness here and there, are really very good overall. Supposedly this is some kind of concept album, but I'm not sure I'm getting it.

Fans of the more melodic varieties of Black Metal will absolutely want to check this out, as the proficiency and inventiveness of this band are really top-notch. If all you want is grim, evil and raw then this will probably not float your boat. But if you like your BM a bit out of the ordinary then Finnugor are well deserving of your time and money.