– Reviews –
Marraskuun Lapset’s Laatupoikkeama (Quality Deviation) and Pahuuden Siemen (Seeds of Evil)
The first of two singles Laatupoikkeama (Quality Deviation) is a song about love by Finnish Melancholic Death Metal Band Marraskuun Lapset (Children of November) This is however not a love song in the traditional sense but more about someone that does not think that they deserve love. The song builds atmosphere with rhythmic and abrupt tempo changes leaving the listener delightfully disorientated. Partanen’s serrated, snarling, primal vocals perfectly compliment the haunting melancholic female vocals of Hanna Ingo, that in direct contrast to Partanen’s tortured and powerful sound, lull and soothe the listener.
Pahuuden Siemen (Seeds of Evil) is the second single from Marraskuun Lapset and is about cancer and the ways in which disease confronts and tortures us. The song considers the battle with a disease like cancer and even when its finally defeated the toll of such a confrontation. The choir within the song screams about wanting to live, shouting it so loud in the hope that death will pass by. A choppy groove leads the listener into the song as the intensity builds. Partanen’s grisly, anguished vocals slow before picking up pace joined by a choir of singers with melodic echoing vocals. This gives the listener the feel of a chase and the undulating, unpredictable ebb and flow of circumstance in a battle with illness.
Artwork photo by Tero Hautamäki
Recorded at Rock Werstas by Sami Pulkkinen
Tero Hautamäki – Guitars, Bass
Janne Partanen – Vocals
Drums are played by
Teemu Koski (Vaasa Palaa).
Choir: Jussi-Pekka Litmanen, Jani Latva-Salo, Sofia Ingo, Hanna Ingo, Satu Kuru.
written by Sylvana Ferguson
With the quality of these two songs the anticipated Marraskuun Lapset’s debut EP Lauluja Elämässä Eksynielle (Songs For People Lost In Their Lives), set to be released by Inverse Records in late 2022, is something to look forward to.
Marraskuun Lapset is founded in the summer of 2021 by Tero Hautamäki (Hellyysagrrressio, Burning Mindfields, Wasteland) & Janne Partanen (Hautajaisyö, Uhriristi). The band is set to release their debut EP later in 2022.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Marraskuun-Lapset-104482418661869
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/marraskuun_lapset
bandcamp: https://marraskuunlapset.bandcamp.com
Melancholic Death Metal Band Marraskuun Lapset (November Child)
Finnish Melancholic Death Metal band Marraskuun Lapset (November Child) comprises of musicians Tero Hautamäki and Janne Partanen. The duo took inspiration for their band name from the start of the long winter months and the Polar nights that begin in Finland in November. Hautamäki’s birthday is also in November. Marras is an old Finnish word for death.
Having both been involved in the music industry and making music for a long time Partanen and Hautamäki bring different things to Marraskuun Lapset. Prior to their collaborationHautamäki was primarily involved in the Punk and Rock music scene while Partanen had already delved into Death Metal and Black Metal.
The duos formation of Marraskuun Lapset was a result of similar attitudes towards music and a eagerness to use their different experiences in the music scene to foster a more melancholic, depressive and heavy type of music. Marraskuun Lapset has found inspiration from a “darkness of mind” that they say has been motivated by the gloomy winters and what they believe is a Finnish cultural tendency towards sensitivity, depression and a hesitance to have open discussions. The rich history of Death Metal in Finland had a particular influence on Partanen as a vocalist but for Hautamäki Marraskuun Lapset is his first foray into Death Metal.
“When you get older you contemplate death” according to Marraskuun Lapset and this has influenced the themes that they explore in their music. With songs written from the heart, Hautamäki and Partanen explore such evocative topics as sickness, divorce, suicide and the mistakes we make in life.
The talents and ideas of Hautamäki and Partanen permeate all aspects of the group. Having a clear idea of the image they want to foster for Marraskuun Lapset the duo cultivate the aesthetic with care. Hautamäki is a skilled photographer whose beautiful, dark photographs further enhance the groups concepts of melancholy and forlorness, serving as the artwork for their albums.
With a debut EP almost ready and an upcoming new music video about to be released Marraskuun Lapset are currently writing news songs. They have a live crew in rehearsals ready for when they start performing for audiences.
written by Sylvana Ferguson
Youtube: youtu.be/GkaKc5M0Kjs
Spotify: spoti.fi/3rQzuxm
Tidal: listen.tidal.com/album/214107314/track/214107315
Apple Music: apple.co/3uORjPb
