Muistumia
Kauan
•
February 1, 2015

Given the proliferation of lurid album covers in the history of Heavy Metal, it's a bit disarming the first time you see the artwork for MUISTUMIA. Featuring no more than a road lined with snow covered fir trees, it's a picturesque and understated visual statement and looks so festive, they'd only need a well-placed Robin to make a beautiful Christmas Card. As soon as you press play and become immersed in their world however, it becomes apparent just how apt it is. Listening to these seven tracks is like wandering through a snow covered fairy-tale landscape while pursued by a being of inexplicable horror. It's all beautifully enchanting and otherworldly, but don't look too close or you'll start seeing bodies in the snow drifts.
Revolving around the nucleus of singer/guitarist/keyboardist ANTON BELOV, the band are already veterans of the Russian metal scene with an impressive five albums under their belts. MUISTUMIA however is not their sixth, but a re-recording of some old songs. Existing fans hoping to scratch the new material itch will go unsatisfied, but for newcomers it's still wonderfully enchanting and atmospheric. They've taken as much from AMORPHIS as they have from CANDLEMASS and the result is as richly textured as you could hope.
It starts off brutally enough with the jagged riffing of 'Unsoi,' but before long the distorted guitar chords and pounding drums are joined by sweetly mournful piano melodies. BELOV'S gruff vocals intertwine with the smoother tones of backing singer ALINA BELOVA, while ANATOLY GAVRILOV adds another layer to the mix with some unexpected viola playing. The individual songs link up nicely and despite being made up of re-recordings, it still feels like a cohesive body of work. Go in without any prior knowledge and it'd be easy to mistake this for a carefully structured "proper album."
By far and away though, the best bit is "Aidin Laulu", the grandiose penultimate track. It's a long and well-crafted lesson in how to spice up your favourite Doom with a rich Folky consistency, replete with eerie vocal harmonies and a haunting vein of frozen sorrow. By the end of its eleven minute running time you'll be seeing icicles hanging from roses on the graves of everyone you ever loved.
If that gives the impression that KAUAN deal solely in the kind of music that'll have you shuffling miserably along to your own pathetic funeral however, don't be fooled. MUISTUMIA is unsettling yes, but it also comes with a sense of wide-eyed enthusiasm. It's like gazing upon a bleak world of ice and emptiness but focusing only on an exquisite sunset. Play this while you fall asleep and you'll dream of snow.
8 / 10
Excellent

"Muistumia" Track-listing:
1. Unsoi
2. Aamu Ja Kaste
3. Lumikuuro
4. Koivun Elama
5. Sumun Syleily
6. Aidin Laulu
7. Orkidea
Kauan Lineup:
Anton Belov - Vocals, Guitars, Programming, Keyboards
Alex Vynogradoff - Bass, Backing Vocals
Anton Skrynnik - Drums
Alina Belova - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Anatoly Gavrilov - Viola
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