UMUR
"Violence Stays in Fashion" is the second full-length studio album by Finnish thrash metal act The Hirvi. The album was released through Inverse Records in July 2022. It´s the successor to "Old School Killspree" from June 2018. The Hirvi formed in 1987 and released a demo in 1989 before disbanding. Although they were an influential band on the brutal thrash metal scene of late 1980s Finland, they never managed to release anything other than the 1989 demo. The Hirvi reunited in 2017.
"Welcome to the Wonderland" is a re-recorded track from the 1989 demo, but the remaining tracks are new original compositions. Stylistically The Hirvi continue to play an aggressive thrash metal style with experimental/progressive leanings. Sort of like if Kreator had a Finnish child with Voivod (a contemporary artist like Vektor is another valid reference). Lead vocalist/guitarist Juha Virtanen has a raw snarling vocal style which isn´t far removed from Mille Petrozza fra Kreator, and his vocals are very well performed and convincing (his occasional clean singing is also well performed). The rest of the band are incredibly well playing too, shifting between different riff styles and tempos with natural ease.
"Violence Stays in Fashion" features a slightly more raw and unpolished sounding production compared to the sound production on "Old School Killspree", and it´s not a bad idea to remove some of the polish and present The Hirvi´s music in a more raw sounding environment. It arguably works in favor of the material. Upon conclusion "Violence Stays in Fashion" is another quirky and creative thrash metal release from The Hirvi. They are definitely one of the more unique sounding thrash metal acts out there, and although the experimental/progressive songwriting ideas sometimes make "Violence Stays in Fashion" a bit inconsistent in style, those ideas are also quite charming and they are what make The Hirvi the distinct sounding act they are. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
