Review: “N” by Pohjoisen Soturit

A quartet of demos over a seven year period paved the way for the debut album “Oksat pois… ja osa latvuksista” (or “Branches removed… and some of the treetops“) of Finnish Groove Death Metal band Pohjoisen Soturit (or “Warriors of the North“) in 2016. Finding inspiration in both Extreme Metal and Groove the five piece considered their influences Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir and Pantera, taking their name from “Taistelu Pohjolasta” (or “Battle for the North“) by Moonsorrow. Arguably the bands breakthrough came with the release of their sophomore album “Halaus” in 2022, which was the first with keyboard player Juuso Tujunen. It was enough to allow them to play their first gig outside of Finland at the iconic Camden Underworld in London before a five show tour in Bulgaria with Blax and Arallu. Uniting former members of At the Borders and current members of State of Dystopia, they now reach their 21st anniversary with a third full length simply titled “N” and bassist Jussi Ruotsalainen returning after spending thirteen years of being absent without leave…

As a band Pohjoisen Soturit have always written in their native tongue and that’s not something we would change for the Moon on a stick. However, this reviewer not being a Finnish speaker means we’re not going to referencing the lyrical content. Not that it’s an issue of course because listening to an album in another language is like watching a foreign film. The subtitles are there if you want them, to be translated from the lyric sheet but they’re not a necessity. After all, how many Brutal Slamming Death Metal vocalists have you heard from whereby their sounds are more of a weaponised instrument of destruction than actual comprehendible lyrics? We rest our case. This particular album begins with the title track “N“, sludgy riffs rising from the abyss alongside stompy mid tempo percussion and cinematic synths. The quality of the recording is a little rough around the edges, the raw drum sound giving the impression that the five piece may have committed this one to tape live on the floor of a rehearsal space. That being said, the demonic vocal growls from Anssi Leinonen, a virtuoso solo in the Metalcore vein and the aforementioned synths remain unaffected. As it goes, the synths from Juuso Tujunen are eerily reminiscent of those you might hear from Tom “Shmotz” Schmitz on “XX” era material from Cleveland Ohio natives Mushroomhead.  Next out of the gate is the ominous sounding “Kuiskaus” (or “Whisper“), another track which feels like it has roots in 2003 era American Heavy Metal with dark roots, pounding drums and Melodic Death Metal leaning guitars. Moving into Groove Metal territory “Jäinen Syli” (or “Icy Lap“) uses synths where you might find lead guitars and in doing so creates a brooding atmosphere from which death seems only real.

The haunting twinkling of a music box style sound from the keys during “Tolokun Musta” (or “Toloku Black“) gives the track a horror film vibe in stark contrast to a pair of soaring warm solos at its black beating heart. The mid-tempo march of the groove that runs alongside all of that feels suitably aggressive, the early 2000’s stylings helping make Leinonen’s vocals the heaviest object in the bands sphere of existence. Continuing that narrative “Harhat” (or “Delusions“) bounces along with a little more intensity, pomp and circumstance. Approaching the work of Industrial Metal bands like White Zombie, Marilyn Manson or Dope but so much darker and without that catchy chorus element or programmed drums, it has a nice nostalgic quality to which is echoed later down the line. Leinonen ascends to King like status with the bark and bite of “Valitusvirsi” (or “Lamentation hymn“), some of the keys this time approaching those you might expect from a Hammond organ. It’s an interesting touch which adds a unique flair to the cut and makes a real difference. The unrelenting rain of an oncoming storm batters the store line as the aching keys of “Avanto” (or “Hole in the ice“) play out, once again providing that echo to back what you might expect from Cleveland with love. Embracing clean vocals which intertwine with the harsh ones from Leinonen is an interesting move in this chess game, adding a deep seeded melancholia to the dark and oppressive atmosphere during the choruses… this is one for those dark nights after even darker days [7/10]

Track Listing

1. N
2. Kuiskaus
3. Jäinen Syli
4. Tolokun Musta
5. Harhat
6. Valitusvirsi
7. Avanto

“N” by Pohjoisen Soturit is out 2nd May 2025 via Inverse Records