From Finland, hail the Melodic Black Metal band THE MIST FROM THE MOUNTAINS. Formed in 2010, this album is the band’s second full-length release, and it has six songs. “And So Flew the Death Crow” is first. The lead-in is jovial, and Folky, and features clean vocals. The more hardened sound that follows is quite melodic as well. Harsh vocals enter, but the melodies remain strong. There is a cadence to the rhythms that sound familiar as well. “The Seer of Ages” has a firmer bite out of the gates, but again, that cadence fuels the sound. It isn’t something that I am too crazy about either. When this sound rolls in, it is hard to distinguish the band from their peers, although the clean vocals do a nice job of that.

“At the Roots of the Vile” has a thick wall of guitars, bass, and drums in the beginning that shows the band’s ability to deftly handle faster time signatures. Again, it’s that rhythm of the cadence of the vocals and guitars that throws me off. “Among the Black Waves” is the real standout song on the album for me, because of its length, it allows the band to explore more. The female vocals are somber, it marks a turning point in the album, perhaps from resolve and anger to depression and despair. This is a nice contrast, and I would like to hear more. “In Longing Times” has more clean vocals, and again, it provides a contrast with the aggressive songs on the album. I get tinges of AMORPHIS here, especially in the vocals. If only there were a little more of this.

“Saiva” closes the album, and perhaps more than any other song, it showcases the band’s musicianship. That entering section is brutal, and the band negotiates a shifting meter with deft. The harmonized clean vocals and well done. They bring a sort of longing together with the aggression that makes you wonder what else is out there, beyond the mountain peaks. Overall, the musicianship was excellent, but the songwriting, inconsistent. The band seems better at the gentler elements then the straight up aggression and sting of Black Metal. There are some memorable moments on the album, but too much of it blurs together for me.