Vitutus - Vitutus

Vitutus

Vitutus
self-released; 2014

3.6 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

In 2004 the three-piece Finnish band Vitutus came out with a twelve-song self-title album Vitutus that “attempts to convey the mood of the titular, untranslatable human word.” At its core this is a metal record but also flirts with different genres. Some of the songs veer towards black metal at times but you also hear influences of ‘90s alternative rock. Black metal may seem like worlds away from alternative rock but Vitutus finds a way to make it work by blurring the lines between genres and creating a sequential order of songs that feels natural.

One of the most interesting aspects of the band is their creative process. On their website they explain that “Vitutus is what happens when three friends pick up instruments just to see what comes out. There are no meticulous plans or long rehearsals - we just sit down and start jamming, and as soon as we hear something that we like, we record it and start putting meat around the bones.” One might expect after reading this that the songs are loose, jam sessions that don't add up to much of a song. 

The truth is quite the opposite as the songs sound tight and there isn’t any unnecessary noodling. They open up with a sharp, hard hitting tune called “Old Tom.” When the vocalist sings he has a low octave demon- like growl that you shouldn't be unfamiliar with if you have had an exposure to death metal. The guitars are covered in a good amount of distortion while the snare drum snaps like a machine gun. 

“Not Going Home Tonight” combines synths, manipulated guitar and what sounds like orchestral striking strings to create one of the most engaging songs on the album.  It also contains a highflying guitar solo that is one of the climaxes of the song.

If you want to hear the band flex their technically abilities then take a listen to “Pressure.” The metronome-like drumming is especially intense and impressive. “Damocles” utilizes sheets of white noise not unlike something you would hear from Sunn O))) while the most experimental and ambitious song is the closer “Scent Of Snow.”

Vitutus is still at its heart a metal record and this album will not convert any people who are not already fans of the genre. That being said if you like metal and want more of it this is something that you will want to check out. 

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