Review: “Antihuman Artist” by Wounded In Forest

Formed from the ashes of A Lie Nation following the tragic death of drummer Markus Leinonen, Finnish Death Metal band Wounded In Forest began life in 2023 with each member of the original band taking on a new instrument or role to forge something raw and uncompromising. Their vision was for a more stripped-down and direct Death Metal sound that gave them an outlet for grief, rage and reflection in catharsis. Guitarist Jussi Tuomisto graces the drum stool and is surrounded by guitarist and vocalist Joni Moisanen, bassist and vocalist Miikka Pyykkönen and guitarist Joonas Kokkoniemi as they refuse to stop making music together after fifteen years. Their first record is a concept one, set during the Great Wrath in the early 1700s, a time of Russian occupation and widespread atrocities in Finland. It tells the disturbing story of an individual shaped by violence, born into abuse, sent to war and ultimately transformed into a serial killer who expresses himself by creating grotesque art from the remains of his victims…

Bassist and vocalist Miikka Pyykkönen comments: “Take the Son of a Bitch’ throws you into the brutality of early 1700s Finland. Crown soldiers arrive at the antihero’s home to take a man for the army, and his own family gladly gives him up, calling him a waste of food. It’s based on real stories of men dragged from rural farmhouses into war. This is where his descent plunges even deeper — another step further into a life shaped entirely by violence.”

Combining death growls with shriller dry throated raspy harsh uncleans “The Growth” takes shape as a mid-tempo chugger with not one but two rapid fire passages of neck snapping Death Metal. Despite the desire for something more stripped down, this one has dark brooding atmospheres which are well thought out and executed, the lyrical narrative bordering on the unhinged in places as the band set the scene for the concept. A brutal roar at the start of “Take the Son of a Bitch” serves as a wake up call, the brutal blast beats that follow confirming if there was any doubt, that Tuomisto is more than a capable drummer. The bass has been brought forward in the mix to make it a third stringed rhythm instrument and while the band don’t offer up any solos, their bludgeoning abrasions are more than enough to register as seismic activity. Influenced by 90’s Death Metal “Virent Carnes” hammers home the point with galloping drums and slick riffs, the churn and burn of the bass making Wounded In Forest a four piece who should be bound for Maryland Deathfest. Their dual vocal attack is seriously impressive on this one in particular, making them a force of nature to be reckoned with.

Guitarist and vocalist Joni Moisanen comments:  “‘Godspeed Filthy Warrior’ marks the antihero’s return home from war — not to peace, but to settle a violent score with his own family. Haunted by the whispers of his inner demons, he carries the weight of the battlefield into his own bloodline. The song captures that moment when revenge has become inevitable, and morality has long since rotted away. Every word in the lyrics drips with resentment and bittersweet triumph, and the outro’s spoken monologue reveals his fractured reasoning — part justification, part confession. It’s the sound of a man consumed by violence, standing at the point of no return.”

Influenced by Deathgrind “Godspeed Filthy Warrior” reaches 1200 bpm during its more explosive passages as Wounded In Forest tell the tale of a tormented soul returning home from war with a killing spree on his mind. Consumed by violent rage, the warrior who should be hailed a hero is left dishevelled and diseased by the horrors of war and acts on what the voices in his head tell him he needs to do. The intensity of this one is incredible, the band creating an anti-hero who you can’t help but root for as a whirlwind of percussive battery and weighty down tuned riffs bleed through the bandages. “Altar of Needles” is another deliciously dark cut, the evil laughter at the end of the introduction a nice touch as the rhythmic patterns shift like the sands of the Sahara during a storm. The occasional technical flourish adds a spice that’s nice to the blend of chugging riffs, open-picked chords and Black Metal influenced tremolo passages and by the time “The Last Leg” arrives, the formula seems set in obsidian. The final cut is one of bludgeoning persistence, the man with the iron mask refusing to put down his axe despite being stabbed two hundred times. Savage, brutal and compelling, Markus Leinonen would be proud [8/10]

Track Listing

1. The Growth
2. Take the Son of a Bitch
3. Virent Carnes
4. Godspeed Filthy Warrior
5. Altar of Needles
6. The Last Leg

“Antihuman Artist” by Wounded In Forest is out 5th December 2025 via Inverse Records and is available over at bandcamp