Review: “The Night Makes Us” by Champions Of Sorrow

What could be better than a swan dive into the asphalt? How about a debut EP from a Melodic Deathcore influenced Death Metal band who hail from Helsinki Finland? Champions Of Sorrow, a project which pairs multi instrumentalist Ville Jokilehto with vocalist Ville Rutanen of Anima Hereticae and Red Moon Architect fame are the band in question, the EP “The Night Makes Us” their first shot in anger. Leaning on their friends for assistance, behind the post-production is Finnish studio guru Saku Moilanen (Bloodred Hourglass, Wolfheart) while guitars were recorded by guitarist Juuso Turkki (The Hypothesis, One Morning Left)…

An unholy trinity of tunes to help you breathe more easily is as good a place as any for Champions Of Sorrow to demonstrate the capabilities of their song writing partnership, the collection starting with the orchestration soaked number that is “The Horde“. Imagine if you will, the symphonic elements that might accompany a song by Lorna Shore, Shadow Of Intent or Draconian Reign and then pair them with the kind of demonic vocal performance that would give your grandmother nightmares. Bordering on the feral with a few shriller moments to cut against the grain of the death growls, those vocals are a brutal harsh reality before a spellbinding solo of epic grandeur suggests there is nothing that the duo can not turn their hands to. Before that point the guitars are almost minimalist, punching distorted holes through the orchestration so that you get glimpses of hell through the glorious splendour. Delicate piano gives a melancholic and yet sinister introduction to the title track “The Night Makes Us” before the rampaging, almost inhuman drumming takes hold. Chugging staccato riffs provide backbone and power, while a whirlwind of percussive battery shoots holes in the cinematic orchestration like a machine gun. The sense of epic grandeur remains intact throughout, the scale of the orchestrations giving the duo an incredible arena to play in as they paint the white to grey. Another face melter of a solo makes this one something to savour, multi instrumentalist Jokilehto clearly a master of the dark arts. It has to be said that the mixing and mastering has been nailed, the contrast between the elements being what will make you come back to this collection time and again. A harrowing tale is given a new life with “Faceless Mirror“, the fierce vocal performance adding to the sense of drama that the soundscape creates. Lush textures combine with a vibrant sense of freedom and as a debut release goes, this one is as good as you’re going to find. Polished, composed and loaded with nuances, the quality here is second to none with sublime musicianship adding to well thought out song writing, the result a lethal combination [9/10]

Track Listing

1. The Horde
2. The Night Makes Us
3. Faceless Mirror

“The Night Makes Us” by Champions Of Sorrow is out 27th September 2024 and is available over at bandcamp