Oddland have always occupied an interesting place in my playlists. The band has been around since the early 00s when they were more of a post-grunge band, but they morphed into something much heavier by the time their debut arrived. That was back in 2012, and here they are with their fourth studio album, Unilluminate to Illuminate. It released on August 21st.
The band comes to us from Finland. I still remember stumbling across their debut The Treachery of the Senses, an absolute gem. And the lineup is still the same! Joni Palmorth on bass, Sakari Ojanen on vocals and guitars, Jussi Poikonen on guitars and saxophone, and Ville Viitanen on drums. You’ll hear other instruments, but I can’t find the information about who plays them.
And that is why this album stands out somewhat in the band’s discography. They are known for their lumbering, rather heavy progressive metal. They have always used accent instruments and cinematic flourishes, but this album leans more into the use of saxophone and strings than I remember from their past. My favorite album by them is still 2016’s Origin, but that record is all about the riffs and explosive metallic grooves. So, as the band has progressed, their compositions are becoming slowly more nuanced and diverse. I appreciate that.
Now, I’ll admit that the title of the album threw me. Unilluminate isn’t 100% a real English word, and I imagine there’s something being lost in translation there, but it’s close enough that I understand what they mean. The band says the lyrics address the idea that we all have darkness and light inside us, and sometimes exploring your darkness is the only way to find that light. It’s quite interesting.
The album has 11 tracks, four of them being interludes. I think this is the first time they’ve structured an album this way. Well, calling opener “Amokinus” an interlude isn’t quite right. It’s a two-minute instrumental track with sax and heavy riffs. It introduces the album with zany flair. There’s “Ascent”, a lush cinematic piece that is gorgeous. Then “Act of Solace”, less of an interlude and more of a two-minute ballad, though it still feels like an intermission of some kind. Finally, we have “Unbound”, which is even more reserved; there are vocals and the track lasts one minute. It’s like a brief aside. My only thoughts are 1. I love interludes, and 2. I wish the band would incorporate some of the interlude elements into their actual songs more often. I would love to hear an entire Oddland album that sounds like “Ascent”, for instance.
The remaining seven tracks are quite consistent. “Eternal Erode” is very heavy and even has the odd bit of harsh vox, which isn’t typical for this band. “Soar” is more delicate with a bright melody that serves as the touchstone for some cinema and riffs. I really like that one. “Freefall” has probably the best chorus on the album. It’s heavy as hell, and I love that, but it makes you want to sing, too.
Then comes the pair of title tracks, “Unilluminate” and “Illuminate”. The former almost has a sparkling, cosmic vibe that stays consistent as the song gets heavier and more energetic all the way to the end. You’ll even hear some sax on that one, but not in normal jazzy style. The latter is a duet with a female vocalist (no idea who it is), and it is darker, more organic, and catchy. It’s funny because the tone of the songs almost seem opposite of their titles.
The final two main tracks are actually my favorites overall. “Red Canvas” is a damn masterpiece. It simultaneously reminds me of the cinematic, riffy flow of Origin (which is why I love it so much), but then the sax solo hits, and it just takes off. Such a cool tune. The closer “Waterdrops” is like a sister track with sax again, only significantly more atmospheric in use, and the song has lots of space and emotion. It honestly leaves me feeling rather at peace.
Oddland has made some great albums over the years, but I think this is my second favorite now. It has personality, especially in the second half, and the album just feels carefully conceived. The band is surprisingly good at vocal hooks, but they also know groove and cinema, and their extensive use of saxophone on this album is a breath of fresh air.
_____________
Find Oddland online:
_____________
The PROG Mind 