"SAMMAL is that good old friend you've never met" according to Svart Records website. I can wholeheartedly agree to that statement. I approached this review slightly differently, I did no prior reading about the band, I just decided to let the music speak for itself, and it spoke loud and clear. SAMMAL have been around since early 2000's and started as a duet with Janu Kiviniemi and Jura Salmi and added three extra members in the end of the 2000's. SAMMAL have a very unique sound. They mix progressive rock with some psychedelic 70's alternative rock. Although it is hard to compare them to anyone else, I don't even think I want to. SAMMAL are so unique that they should just be SAMMAL without being compared to any other band.

It is very easy, when listening to SAMMAL to imagine yourself wandering amongst Mother Nature, content with life and separated from the pressure of day-to-day life. "Myrskyvaroitus" has the ideal mix of old school licks with catchy tunes. They sing in their native Finnish tongue, which makes it hard to sing along. Although every musical ounce in your body wants to so it doesn't stop you trying. The fifth song on the album "Muurahaisen Päiväuni" stands out from the rest, beginning with a cultural intro with a pleasant melody, SAMMAL really capture their Finnish origins in this song. It's an admiral feature to any band when they incorporate their heritage into their music. Three songs later we're greeted with the beautiful acoustics of "Kohti Pintaa". While only one minute and thirteen seconds long, it is an elegant piece of music and offers a welcome breather from the rest of the album.

Overall, this album ticks off almost every box on the list. While parts of the album sound almost too similar for my liking, the majority of the album offers something new with every song, one song could be funky hippie guitar licks and the next could be an angelic acoustic piece. SAMMAL are extremely talented songwriters and musicians and should be hailed in that aspect. Their music takes you on a trippy rollercoaster of a journey, we experience all the highs and lows. While their music is an acquired taste, it is something everyone should try at least once.<