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Review Summary: Frostier riffs than even a Yeti could muster. How Iceland’s Toska have managed to remain relatively hidden in the wake of this 2015 self-titled debut is perplexing. Whilst the diminutive island country in the North has been rightfully recognised in recent years as, somewhat ironically, a ‘hotspot’ for chilly black metal creativity, Toska must have slipped on its frozen lakes and skidded under the radar. Having stumbled upon this brief release quite by accident myself, and subsequently grown enamoured, I can earnestly say that this general oversight is a huge shame.
Belying the bleak art decorating it's cover, this album proves at once to be a thoroughly enjoyable, punishing, and enlightening experience. No matter where you turn, colourful melodic riffs swirl though a maelstrom of unrelenting drumming with all the brilliance of a rainbow splintered by a furious blizzard. Amid the torrent, Toska pulse with an impeccable groove: something that’s generally lacking in this bold-and-cold subgenre. The vocal performance is subtle and breathy, with the distinct character of a mountaineer’s final struggle smothered beneath an avalanche, all the while exhaling an assortment of season-appropriate lyrics inspired by Polish poet Tadeusz Micinski. Everything I've mentioned thus far culminates within ‘Night II: Throbbing Tumulus’ - far and away the highlight moment on an exceedingly impressive album. Twin guitar riffs weave melodiously in and out of the icy hurricane caused by the overwhelming percussive presence. This is also an opportune time to mention that every facet of this album is performed spectacularly, including the downright flawless production it requires to gleam the way it does.
Toska can almost be summed up by their iconic combination of angelic melodies gently garnishing a rhythmic frost-punch; a pretty-pink icepick to the brain, if you will, hammered home by the gnarly groove aforementioned. However, the band also tastefully employ winter-y synths when and where they’re advantageous, occasionally featuring the delicate tone of wind-chimes, doubtless fashioned from icicles as is Toska’s wont. The fifth track, epically titled ‘Spirits of the Winter Moon’, is a brooding ambient number which offers something of a respite amidst the unrelenting snow storm surrounding it, lest ye’ who dare listen die of exposure before the penultimate track. There are of course no guarantees on this magical aural mountainside Toska have claimed ownership over, so if the sub-zero instrumentation and the vocalist's arctic rasp fail to freeze your bones, it won't be for lack of trying,
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Album Rating: 4.5
https://toskabm.bandcamp.com/album/toska-2
My CD came today so it was the right time to publish after some fresh inspiration to finish this off. If you ignored my short review and skipped straight to this comment that's fine because all you need to know is that this album is fucking glorious and you need it in your life.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Haha. Check this six, you'll love it.
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Wait wtf is up with the vocal production? Why is he just whispering his way through the record? The synth and guitar riffs are ace, but the vocals bother me, the delay / distortion or whatever effect they put on the vocals is really annoying imo. I'm glad the music is too good for the vocals to kill it though, I'll check this in full surely!
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Shame you don't dig the vocals man but I get it. Personally I feel like they do a good job by being understated and indistinct, but your criticism is entirely valid.
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Great review mate, you’ve convinced me to check this
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«the diminutive island»
Iceland is huge
Other than that, I liked the album too.
Another underrated Icelandic black metal band is Ljain.
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Eh, wouldn’t say huge, just pretty big
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Iceland is very big for an island, everything is relative & the vast majority of islands in the world are miniscule in comparison.
Edit: good review though
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In comparison to Greenland tho
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That's one example Blackwater, are most islands smaller, yes/no?
I think Iceland has the unfortunate geographical disadvantage of being comparatively close to Greenland & therefore making it appear smaller than it actually is.
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Very quick check...
No-one really knows how many islands there are but it's in the thousands, that much is clear. Iceland is the 18th largest island in the world, that's pretty damn big if you ask me.
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Yeah, well a few of the larger ones aren't nations in their own right, so they're fairly obscure despite their size, unless you have a particularly keen interest in these things. I only know this after checking.
Even Greenland isn't a recognised state, isn't it a constituent of Denmark or something?
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
great review brother, gonna spin it rn
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Yes, just checked, well I got something right... I feel like such ignoramus, didn't even realise anyone lived on Greenland until about 10 minutes ago. Population of just over 50k.
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Iceland has, yeah. Must be tough, all that winter & darkness.
Are we talking about Iceland again, at least it's vaguely on topic?
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i love you scuro
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always dig your reviews dude, and you do a good job of introducing me to albums that I haven't read about anywhere else. Not a huge fan of the guitar tones, they are really icepicky, and combined with those vocals are pretty grating through cans. Icy synths though, and dig the production otherwise.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Haha, alright guys I'll find another way of wording my description of Iceland. Just to clarify a little, I didn't quite mean that it was small for an island, more that compared to all the mainland countries where black metal took off it is a small island country. In a population of 300,000ish they've got a thriving BM scene while Norway in comparison has 5 mill and even then they're a pretty small country. BUT, my wording does not make that clear at all so I hear you all and I'll fix that right away.
Thanks for reading guys, and for checking this out (:
Edit: does changing it to "diminutive island country" work any better?
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I'm so glad I clicked on this wow
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Thanks for support!
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