Kiuas
Somewhere within the darkest moors, between black cliffs like the devil's teeth, a child was born with a warrior's heart, son of the stars, of ice and flame
I love this album so much I often find it creeping into my mind on the vinegar strokes.
But enough of that.
Kiuas are a power metal band from Finland, but expect none of the flowery nonsense of fellow Finns Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica. These guys pack a serious punch, grouping them with the more 'extreme' power metal bands like Children Of Bodom and Norther. But don't compare them to those losers! Kiuas have wisely largely eschewed the faceless death grunts of their peers in favour of the strong, clean voice of Ilja Jalkanen, who compensates for his limited range with his obvious enthusiasm for the material. Secondly, Kiuas have cleverly mixed in elements from other styles of metal too, from the occasional blastbeat and black-metal riffing sequences in the title track and On Winds of Death We Ride to the traditional Finnish music-inflected Across the Snows to the groovy stomp of Thorns of a Black Rose to the beautifully orchestrated And the North Star Cried. But the serious highlight is the thunderous and painfully awesome Warrior Soul, a top-notch pagan anthem with what is possibly the catchiest chorus ever.
Oh, and for the curious, Ukko was the Finnish god who specialized in storms and lightning. I didn't know that until recently. The title track makes a whole lot more sense now.
I love this album so much I often find it creeping into my mind on the vinegar strokes.
But enough of that.
Kiuas are a power metal band from Finland, but expect none of the flowery nonsense of fellow Finns Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica. These guys pack a serious punch, grouping them with the more 'extreme' power metal bands like Children Of Bodom and Norther. But don't compare them to those losers! Kiuas have wisely largely eschewed the faceless death grunts of their peers in favour of the strong, clean voice of Ilja Jalkanen, who compensates for his limited range with his obvious enthusiasm for the material. Secondly, Kiuas have cleverly mixed in elements from other styles of metal too, from the occasional blastbeat and black-metal riffing sequences in the title track and On Winds of Death We Ride to the traditional Finnish music-inflected Across the Snows to the groovy stomp of Thorns of a Black Rose to the beautifully orchestrated And the North Star Cried. But the serious highlight is the thunderous and painfully awesome Warrior Soul, a top-notch pagan anthem with what is possibly the catchiest chorus ever.
Oh, and for the curious, Ukko was the Finnish god who specialized in storms and lightning. I didn't know that until recently. The title track makes a whole lot more sense now.
Artist: Kiuas
Album: The Spirit Of Ukko
Genre: Power Metal
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thespirtofukko
Track Listing:
1. The Spirit Of Ukko - 5:52
2. On The Winds Of Death We Ride - 4:21
3. No More Sleep For Me - 4:05
4. Warrior Soul - 5:49
5. Until We Reach The Shore - 4:27
6. Across The Snows - 5:59
7. Thorns Of A Black Rose - 4:48
8. And The North Star Cried - 6:58
Album: The Spirit Of Ukko
Genre: Power Metal
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thespirtofukko
Track Listing:
1. The Spirit Of Ukko - 5:52
2. On The Winds Of Death We Ride - 4:21
3. No More Sleep For Me - 4:05
4. Warrior Soul - 5:49
5. Until We Reach The Shore - 4:27
6. Across The Snows - 5:59
7. Thorns Of A Black Rose - 4:48
8. And The North Star Cried - 6:58
Download: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YA0H7V70
-Steel Lord
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