When one deals with Metal for some years, a concept becomes clear: that every Metal genre done in a country carries a ‘national DNA’, or in other words, there are elements that are common between Metal acts from different genres that are specific from that country. As an example, the more you deal with Finnish bands, the clearer becomes that Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal and others share commons features. As a good homework, hear to “INRI”, the seventh full-length of the quintet GOATS OF DOOM.

As expected, it’s a Black Metal release. It means that if one thinks about Finnish Black Metal, they share that darkened and morbid appeal that one can hear on acts as AZAGHAL, BARATHRUM, CATAMENIA and others, but these guys looks to keep things as classic as they can, but don’t deny the use of melodic elements (where the Finnish Metal DNA is presented clearly), contrasts between shrieks (and even with some clean vocals, as heard on “Kuoleman lapset”), but with a frozen touch that’s usual for the genre. It’s different, aggressive and funereal, and always truly interesting. For a Black Metal fan, “INRI” is a delight made music. The sonority was conceived to have a classic Black Metal outfit, preserving some lo-fi aspects, but enabling the band to express its musical ideas as clear as possible for the hearers. But it means that the choice for defined instrumental tunes was done in a wise form.

On the songs, what’s left to say is that “Vihani saatanan mahdilla roihuaa”, “Kuoleman lapset” (fine melodic guitar riffs and arrangements can be heard on this one), “Kivet helvetin tiellä” (very good bass guitar lines and heavy artillery from the drums), “Teeskentelijä” (that has a more classic Finnish Black Metal outfit), “Kunniattomat” (on the slower parts, the melodic Finnish DNA can be heard, here making things even more darkened), “Rauhanrikkoja” and “INRI” (fine shrieks with unusual tunes contrasts with the clean vocals and darkened guitars) form a great set of Black Metal songs that makes the fans’ interest even greater. If you’re into Black Metal, “INRI” is for you, and GOATS OF DOOM created a very good release, indeed.