On the surface, it’s easy to describe a horror movie. It’s even easier if you already know the horror style you prefer. For example, there’s a big difference between the Terrifier film and the original Halloween. The visuals, intent, and timing provide clear distinctions. One overflows with unrelenting, mean-spirited sensationalism while the other is a slow-burning psychological thriller. One throws everything it’s got at you to the point of absurdity, while the other doesn’t show a drop of blood but has you checking the doors and windows.
But what does any of that have to do with Muuntautuja, the sixth record from Oranssi Pazuzu? Everything.
Formed in 2007, Oranssi Pazuzu is a black metal band from Tampere, Finland. But where most groups in the subgenre put a strong emphasis on speed, aggression, and the macabre, Oranssi Pazuzu has always gone a step further. By experimenting with structure, atmosphere, and formats, they’ve crafted a very distinct sound of their own. By combining elements of psych, noise, and ambient, they create what I call “cosmic black metal.
On Muuntautuja (which roughly translates as “Shapeshifter”), Oranssi Pazuzu delves even further into space and time.
Starting things off with what sounds like electronic clicking that gradually changes tempo, “Bioalkemisti” feels more like a pre-credits sequence in a horror movie than an opening track. By the time the demon-inflected vocals and the orchestral guitars join the fray, the listener now has a vague hint as to what kind of journey it’s going to be. However, unlike how the unchecked gore of the Terrifier movies desensitizes the viewer, Muuntautuja doesn’t show its hand in the opening sequence. Instead, the following track, “Muutautuja,” takes its foot off of the accelerator to create a composition that’s more unsettling than outright scary. Much like Halloween, this is a horror movie that knows the value of timing.
It would be a disservice to Oranssi Pazuzu to describe the rest of the track listing as simply going back and forth between heavy and soft.
While those dynamics influence the flow of the album, the softer pieces build significant tension instead of giving the listener a break. The light piano riff of “Voitelu” and the trip-hop beats of “Hautatuuli” are more akin to knowing the killer is in the house but not knowing where in the house he is hiding. The only time the album exhibits any real sonic levity is with an ambient soundscape interlude signalling the halfway point of the album.
The final 3 tracks of Muutautuja showcase Oranssi Pazuzu stepping even further out of their comfort zone while maintaining their black metal edge. “Valotus” jumps headfirst into industrial territory with constant loops of metallic noise. The song’s distorted vocals sound like a possessed cyborg while washes of static end with a high-pitch whistle that makes the hairs on your neck stand on end. “Ikikaarme” delivers a full-on cinematic experience mimicking a movie’s final act fighting against the killer in the house.
The 10-minute epic tune essentially ends the album – not with a sigh of relief but with a question mark. Is the killer really dead? In true horror fashion, Muuntautuja’s closing track, “Vieriva usva” is the ominous score playing as the credits roll, just as eerie as the horrors we experienced beforehand. Like any good horror franchise with multiple sequels, the album concludes with a stinger letting us know the terror will return in the next outing.
Admittedly, Black Metal isn’t for everyone but Oranssi Pazuzu’s atmospheric exploration is a broad swing sure to pique the interest of casual listeners.
It might be a little too gnarly for fans of the avant-garde and too cinematic for the death metal crowd. But by replacing blast beats and chainsaw-chugging guitars with malevolent arrangements and a cosmic aesthetic, Oranssi Pazuzu is one of the most interesting acts in Black Metal. If Muuntautuja is the horror movie of the season, I can’t wait for the inevitable follow-up.
Muuntautuja is available at Nuclear Blast Records.