The fifth full-length from Finnish doomers Spiritus Mortis — who through guitarist Jussi Maijala and bassist Teemu Maijala trace their roots back to 1987 and claim for themselves the title of being Finland’s first doom band — will see release this September in a continued collab with respected purveyor Svart Records. It will be the first offering for the Alavus-based outfit since 2009 not to feature vocalist Sami Hynninen (also known as Albert Witchfinder of Reverend Bizarre and so many others), which sounds like a long time, but the truth is it was really just two records. Kimmo Perämäki came on board in 2018 and on the new single “Death’s Charioteer,” the band’s intent in bringing out a classic metal vibe as hinted below by the PR wire can be heard in the track ahead of the rest of the record’s arrival.

Certainly there’s plenty of doom to be had, and no doubt “Death’s Charioteer” was chosen as the first single in part for that, but the chug and release methodology employed between the verses and chorus drop clues as to what sort of NWOBHM-ery might follow. One way to find out, I guess. Sit on hands for about three months. Ha.

From the PR wire:

SPIRITUS MORTIS Release New Music Video for “Death’s Charioteer”

New Album ‘The Great Seal’ Coming This September

Finnish Heavy Metal legends Spiritus Mortis unveil a grand-scale epic of antique Doom on their new single “Death’s Charioteer”. Erecting a new monolith in the halls of Doom Metal history with their fifth album, The Great Seal, Spiritus Mortis certify true classic status as one of the scene’s modern greats.

There are few modern-day bands that can be uttered under the same breath as the giants of Traditional Doom and Heavy Metal like Spiritus Mortis. Formed in 1987 as Rigor Mortis, they can firmly attest to having been “the first Finnish Doom Metal band”, uncovering hallowed ground before the later imitators. Carrying the banner of powerful true Metal, the likes of which stands proudly next to the masters such as Dio era Sabbath, Solitude Aeturnus and Trouble, Spiritus Mortis have established a tradition of catchy song-writing and consummate knowledge of sacred riff-craft. The Great Seal is a colossal album, which Spiritus Mortis describes as “a rite of collective suicide and an orgy of self-immolation”, and plumbs the depths of epic sorrow with gargantuan slabs of igneous riffs and emotional vocals.

Synonymous with classic Finnish Doom bands like Reverend Bizarre, whose singer Albert Witchfinder intoned previous albums’ vocals, Spiritus Mortis continues to define and cement their formidable legacy. Albert’s replacement, Kimmo Perämäki, is more than worthy of the consecrated robes he inherits, delivering a performance that is flawlessly dominating and instantly gratifying. Tracks like “Martyrdom Operation” and “Visions Of Immortality” see Perämäki boldly carving his own name in the stone tablets of future history, marrying the riffs of the Maijala brothers and guitarist Kari Lavila with the splendor of magnificent melancholy that Spiritus Mortis is so known and admired for.

Not only will true devotees of the Spiritus Mortis Doom church be raising their fists with full hearts, but those who seek knowledge of the faithful spirit of real Metal can surely look no further than within The Great Seal.

www.spiritusmortis.com
https://www.facebook.com/spiritusmortis.official
https://www.svartrecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/svartrecords
https://www.instagram.com/svartrecords

Spiritus Mortis, “Death’s Charioteer” official video

No doubt Helsinki-based fest Blowup Vol. 3 will continue to take shape over the next couple months — October is still a ways off — but they make a strong opening statement anyhow. We already knew that Italian cosmic doomers Ufomammut would be on the road supporting their new album, 8, which is out in September (info here), but to find the homage paid to native Finnish doom in welcoming Spiritus Mortis, which features former Reverend Bizarre vocalist Sami Hynninen, is particularly in keeping with tradition. I’ll admit I don’t really know Russian outfit Phurpa, but their name is incredible enough to warrant investigation. I’ll get on it. Like with the Bandcamp stream at the bottom of this post. That’ll be a good place to start.

The info below was run through an internet giant’s translation matrix, so take it more as a work of linguistic impressionism rather than pure technicality, but the dates and links and band names are right, so I think the important parts are covered.

Dig it:

Blowup Vol. 3 Helsinki, Korjaamo

October 13 – October 15

Korjaamo
Töölönkatu 51, 00250 Helsinki

Confirmed acts acts so far are:

Phurpa (RUS)
Spiritus Mortis (FIN)
Ufomammut (ITA)

This October, Helsinki is again on the hardest place to be.

Blowup festival was created to meet the autumn gaping vacuum of doom and other marginal, experimental heavy music lovers in the calendar. The number of visitors and the feedback received has shown that there is a demand for the event. Blowup Vol. 3 will be held from 13 to 14.10. at Korjaamo in Helsinki.

Vaunusali has served as the main venue of the festival successfully. the spirit of the underground exude an event, but so organized professionally manicured evenings have attracted incense for both customers and artists alike.

In previous occasions we have seen blowup genres international top names such as Ufomammut, Year of No Light, 40 Watt Sun, Conan and Lucifer, as well as domestic artists such as Skepticism, Callisto and Emma-candidate Oranssi Pazuzu.

This year, Blowup Vol. 3 of the festival artists presents a visual artist Tekla Vályn photographs. “Close of each artist into the dark space, where I spent hours listening to music and watching the darkness. The works are the fruits of darkness, generated by the music and visions of darkness KALEIDOSCOPE” The first artists are Ufomammut, Phurpa and Spiritus Mortis.

Ufomammut (ITA)
Ufohavaintoja have been reported in the 2010s, repeatedly in Finland. And rightly so, because italialaistriolla has played an important role in both of these latitudes doom / stoner popularity of the ground work that Blow Up That Gramophone story. Helsinki arrival Ufomammut is topical once again, because of massive riffs and psychedelic moods business card featuring a band has just finished their new album.

PHURPA (RUS)
The ritual is a word with many bands now like to describe gigs. Phurpan in connection with any other word does not come to mind. Echoes from Tibet, Tantric esoteriaa, mantras throat, voice skulls. Phurpa is a terrorist mind. An explosion of fragments of consciousness after the occurrence of the enlarged Pick it all makes sense.

Spiritus Mortis (FIN)
Finnish doom metal list can not talk about without mentioning two bands: laid the groundwork for Spiritus Mortis and magnitude that brought Reverend Bizarre. Blowup will be like ouroboros experiences, because the latter vocalist Sami Hynninen aka Albert Witchfinder occurs for the last time the ranks.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1281525598564862/
https://www.facebook.com/blowupthatgramophone/
https://www.tiketti.fi/Blowup-Vol-3-Kulttuuritehdas-Korjaamo-vaunusali-Helsinki-lippuja/45471

Phurpa, Trowo Phurnag Ceremony (2015)

The last Spiritus Mortis full-length, The God Behind the God, was released in 2009, but on Nov. 11, the long(est)-running Finnish doom purveyors return with The Year is One, on Svart Records. Their fourth album overall, it’ll be their second behind the aforementioned outing to be fronted by Sami “Albert Witchfinder” Hynninen, formerly of Reverend Bizarre. They’ve put a couple teasers out on their Thee Facebooks page over the last however long — one of which, for the song “Jesus Chris, Son of Satan,” you’l find below — but the PR wire has confirmed the album info and release date, and sent that along with the cover art and tracklisting.

All of which you’ll find immediately following, in case you needed a totta doom fix:

SPIRITUS MORTIS set release date for new SVART album – features ex-Reverend Bizarre member

Finland’s most ancient purveyors of doom metal, Spiritus Mortis are back with a vengeance! Seven years have passed since their previous offering, The God Behind The God, also their first featuring ex-Reverend Bizarre vocalist Albert Witchfinder. Now on their fourth album, The Year Is One is a mirror to your childhood’s occult fantasies. It is what you thought you heard when listening to your favorite headbanging music – even though those bands actually sang about sex and drugs and driving fast cars, whereas Spiritus Mortis’ material really does deal with black magic and necrophilia. It is as heavy and evil as one can get without slipping away from the world of pure old-school heavy metal.

Prepared with the kind of passion and time-consuming concentration that is fitting of the doom metal genre, The Year Is One was several years in the making, and the dedication is palpably present in the music. The band’s roots in Dio-era Sabbath sounds are there, but the men play with a heavy-handed yet melodic vigor rather unusual in the genre. Albert Witchfinder’s voice carries a newfound joy of expression, and he delivers his bedtime stories about demon summoning and corpse violation as if possessed by evil genius.

Svart Records will release this work of supreme darkness on November 11th on CD, digital, and double vinyl. At this point, the only confirmed live appearance will be in November in Helsinki, supporting Satan and Pentagram. The first track premiere shall be announced shortly. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Spiritus Mortis’ The Year is One
1. Robe of Ectoplasm
2. I am a Name on Your Funeral Wreath
3. Babalon Working
4. Jesus Christ, Son of Satan
5. Holiday in the Cemetery
6. She Died a Virgin
7. Black Magic, White Powder
8. World of No Light

www.spiritusmortis.com
www.facebook.com/Spiritus-Mortis-211539205669927
www.svartrecords.com
www.facebook.com/svartrecords
www.twitter.com/svartrecords

Spiritus Mortis, “Jesus Christ, Son of Satan” teaser