MIEHALA are a four man band specialising in thrash metal as they are all from Finland and they would have been formed in the year of 2021, as they released two singles the following year before they had their debut album GODS OF DEATH came out the same year in 2022. The band themselves are fronted by lead vocalist and drummer ELIAS LEPISTO, as well as guitarist/vocalist TUOMAS LEPISTO, guitarist MIKA KAHARA and bassist JARKKO PESONEN. Two members who are ELIAS and TUOMAS were both former members of the band CARNAGE who were around and active in the early 1990’s, now they come together again to form yet another band, about 20 years later.

So their debut album, GODS OF DEATH was a real opportunity for building up a brand new fanbase and introducing themselves to a whole new generation of listeners as they produce some of the finest guitar riffs you can possibly imagine with pulse racing drums as well as headbanging vocals full of umph and dismay. So after this, the band released a further two brand new singles in 2023 and earlier this year of 2024, both of these are now included on the band’s EP titled SONS OF ALAHEIM as it has arrived. The intro track is “Torch The Children” with quick precise cymbal hits and guitars raring to go also, drums do follow suit as they also add to the chaos. A very smooth tempo is set by drums and guitars, for vocals to follow along as they switch from clean high vocals and filthy thick monstrous vocals. So onwards we go into the next track which is “War” we hear a crescendo of an alarm sound effect ringing and perhaps seen as a call to arms, guitars load up and fire those stunning guitar riffs that make such a difference. Vocals also add in some harmonies or backing vocal lines that certainly contribute to the overall feel of this track, drums very determined and they flow so smoothly with lots of colorization as well as thumping snare hits to coincide with guitars or screamer vocal lines.

“Into The Void” opens with thunder bolts of lead guitar riffs, drums tearing through the boundaries if there were any there in the first place and vocals being a menace but having a positive impact on the overall tone and sound quality of the track. Guitar ventures into a solo instrumental section with the other instruments as vocals take a break but does give space and time for the other instruments to stand out more than before. Guitar picks strings later on in the track and in a more traditional approach before there is a build up and crescendo of all instruments even vocals sustaining those screamer notes. A fitting closing guitar part to this track with drums and bass guitar accompanying also, so into the next track we go. “Altar” has more of those cunning guitar riffs as well as average tempo drums and vocals that are harsh but not excessive as we hear the contrast of the two guitar parts, so another steady track. It’s also not too long either, just clocks in at roughly three minutes, drums has a very short transition fill then it’s merely a repeat of what we heard before, but the vocals do develop more as they unleash so much disgust and dismay. The final track is “Vision Of Violent Death” and this opens with faster and pulsating drums, guitar also accompanying the drums and continuing the partnership they have throughout this EP. Vocals are very dark and occult as they have been, with that harsh thrash metal vibe, they can certainly be seen to have an influence of maybe black metal.

The drums go into a more metal and stamping pattern, which is commonly used in various metal genres, but this pattern isn’t as fast beside this the final track is short enough. So as we come to the band’s final say and closure to the EP, I can look back only now that these guys are really good, their guitar riffs especially and drums as to their arrangement is simply well written. Vocals had a pretty broad range in their own style, seems to mix between thrash and black metal but certainly has that thrash metal influence a lot more, so overall a very good EP, we shall see what their next release holds in store for us.