Oulu, Finland's A LIE NATION formed in 2010, a Melodic Black Metal band. To date, they have release two EPs. "Begin Hate" is the newest, and contains four tracks, with a total running time of just over 17 minutes. This is an interesting genre, and one that has grown very vast lately. Traditional Black Metal is still very much alive, but I love that many newer bands are expanding the horizons of this genre down new paths. A LIE NATION have really explored many different sounds on this album. For instance, "Rot Of The Spirit" has a traditional sounding riff from the NWOBHM era, countered with a more hasty Black Metal riff, creating a bastard child that is both unique and provocative. The vocals are in the high end Black Metal vein, but not total shrieks as you would sometimes encounter. But "Shooting The Messenger" comes straight for your throat from the start with that Black Metal sound, depressive and angry at the same time. There are melodies bubbling beneath the surface however that are aching to get out at full speed. Some of the chord patterns remind me of their mighty country-mates INSOMNIUM, which can never be a bad thing.

"Into Black Divine" is something completely different from the first two tracks. This Black Metal tune has a swinging rhythm at times, to contrast with the mayhem of a different riff. Call the meter 3/4 or 6/8; either way it draws you in with a mesmerizing stance. Closing the four-track EP is "A Burn Afar," which is tenuous at first, before total hell breaks loose. Again, there is a core of a Black Metal sound but that is too simple to describe what you are listening to here. Acoustic guitars hold a steady sound beneath the angered vocals in the first part of the verse, followed by a chunky electric guitar riff in the second. The back and forth is what keeps the sound interesting for me. A LIE NATION have presented four cohesive but diverse tracks on the EP "Begin Hate" here, and you can hear an intelligent approach to songwriting and the potential to really tap into something special in the future. Get the EP and start following them!