UMBRA NIHIL – Gnoia

Finns are either completely weird people or they smoke weed all day and night long that leads to strange continuous hallucinations. However, the latest output of Firedoom is again hardly to top in matter of oddities. Close parallels to likewise extremely strange Aarni come up by oneself. And that’s not only due to the split CD they did together in 2002 (which probably doesn’t know anyone around here) but also since Aarni mastermind MM is handling the axe in UMBRA NIHIL, not in charge this time though.
Comparing both bands’ releases this year Gnoia performs much better. Despite of all variety and stylistically strange ideas the atmosphere gets build up and cultivated more constantly. This CD sounds more mature and less ironically sarcastic and over-experimental. UMBRA NIHIL in fact spread a more ethereal floating and at the same time darkly threatening aura, skilfully creating a feel of depression while tons of lava masses seek its place on the listeners chest.
Already opener Nocturnal Occurences rolls down everything in heaviest doom manner, while a German flute on the title track tries to raise a spark of hope. Introducing intro to Shields Down again is just wonderfully sad, reminding a little bit of Tenhi. On Fear Of The Void the dark happening gets mixed up with some chary waltz tunes and on Words Left Unspoken the willing listener gets abruptly confronted with a real mid-tempo pace. All tracks have in common that all riffs get exhausted to the ultimate maximum; well-done melodies and hooks get utilized. Singing emerges as a dull rumbling, you cannot understand any single word but it suits the music damn well. The 10 minutes running outro Fade Out (that’s humour …) reveals some 70’s prog rock elements without reducing anything in matter of heaviness and expressiveness. There you go! My respect! Gnoia is definitely not party compatible but a wonderful piece of individual music for unadjusted zeitgeists. 9 points.