Vehemency
Musta Kappeli is a great example of a band that relies hundred percent on intention, not caring much about the actual execution of the music. What this basically means is that Musta Kappeli is very sloppy played and out-of-tune, and that’s the way the band has been since their first demo. In fact, this debut full-length, Ei Valoa Tähän Kammioon (”No Light Into This Chamber”), is probably even messier than their previous outputs.
It might be a black metal cliché to always say that to preserve the natural atmosphere of the recording, one take is enough. But that’s the way that works with Musta Kappeli, in the same spirit in which Dead Reptile Shrine plays, for example. It’s not an easy bite for the listener, for sure. Compositionally, Ei Valoa Tähän Kammioon doesn’t bring much anything new to the picture: it’s still forest-inspired nocturnal black metal with synths and various samples every now and then. The second member, IkiHorros, is more apparent on this record, in the form of female chanting vocals in the intro ”Valosta Varjoon”.
Ei Valoa Tähän Kammioon has strong material from the beginning to the last seconds of Gehenna’s cover track ”Angelwings and Ravenclaws”, but there is a lack of any real masterpieces. Anyhow, the overall malicious, deep-dark atmosphere and sloppy playing (that sounds like demons themselves got hold of the instruments) is what makes the album interesting enough for multiple spins. There are certain highlight moments such as the melancholic atmosphere of ”Palaan Pedoksi” and the sinister ”Rukous Pimeyteen” with its lyrics invoking the Devil himself, and with great power.
Layout-wise, I would have loved to see more Helgorth’s artwork in the same spirit in which the front cover is. Unfortunately the digipack and booklet look a bit random and there’s not enough focus on the beautiful front cover art. Enough with that not-so-important graphic nagging, Ei Valoa Tähän Kammioon is a good album but the recent split with Korgonthurus already proved that Musta Kappeli can do better.