b r a n d o n

I've always had a hard time describing this band's music; they play such a unique combination of rock, folk, world music, and metal that comparisons are pointless. The band describe themselves schizophrenically — on their website, they've labeled themselves "klezmer-punk" and "horny and punky secret agent brass music," but now they seem resigned to just saying "Alamaailman Vasarat is a Finnish group playing fictional world music." Perhaps they have as hard a time talking about their music as I do. For those who have never heard these guys, Alamaailman Vasarat ("Hammers of the Underworld") play a vividly cinematic brand of music led by brass and wind instruments and a seriously heavy dual-cello attack. These cellos tend to be processed and amplified such that they often sound like crunching electric guitars as much as they do cellos; the cellists play with the frenzy of a rock band's rhythm section, frequently just hammering away at chords while the sax and trombone punch out folky staccato melodies. Elsewhere, though, the cellos lead the way with slow melodies, sometimes lyrical and sometimes doomy. It's arguable that this band has more or less just two gears — heavy, crunchy rock and slow, dirgey marches. Both are in full view on Maahan, although the emphasis is on the former. For seasoned Alamaailman Vasarat fans, Maahan is definitely more similar to Vasaraasia or Käärmelautakunta than it is to the much poppier Kinaporin Kalifaatti (which now appears to have been just a diversionary collaboration). If you enjoyed the first two albums, you are likely to find much to like here. If anything, the compositions are more concise and hard-hitting, even the slow dirges; the tracks on Maahan are on average significantly shorter than those on the previous albums, but lose nothing in the way of thematic development or emotional impact. After repeated listens, the album remains compelling, as there's a kind of hidden sinister side to this stuff, even on the bouncier tunes — a feeling borne out by the band's music videos, which boast a totally unique and very twisted dark humor. There are not too many bands out there that defy comparison as much as this one does. That alone wouldn't be enough to take note of them if it weren't for the surpassing quality of their music. Maahan upholds that legacy proudly. review by Brandon Wu — 5-2-07 —