Debemur Morti Productions is proud to present „Kaarna„, an exceptional and exhaustive collection of acoustic compositions recorded by OCTOBER FALLS.
This 2xCD, housed in a noble digipack with embossed logo is available since June 20th. All songs can be streamed from the band’s Bandcamp page (direct links below in the track listing).
„Kaarna” already received a lot of raving reviews, among which here are two excerpts :
- Metal Mouth : „Kaarna is a compendium of acoustic excellence„
- Metal Observer : „The smooth acoustic passages, quiet melodies and ethereal backing keys throughout are just stellar.” (10/10)
The mastermind, Mikko Lehto, comments :
„As the years have passed by and the earlier releases are slowly getting harder to find, instead of making multiple re-releases I decided to gather them as „Kaarna”, a compilation of all original acoustic pieces recorded between 2002 and 2010, including everything that was released either on cd or vinyl versions. All the sessions are uncut for this release, so individual releases are now gathered within single tracks instead of splitting them into parts, a mistake I made in original versions. There are small alterations and adjustments, but nothing was remixed. Hopefully this will be something new for those of you who only know the later, harsher October Falls material.”
The track listing is as follows :
1. Usva (Listen)
2. Viima (Listen)
3. Polku (Listen)
4. Marras (Listen)
5. Sarastus (Listen)
6. Tuoni (Listen)
„Kaarna” is a sacred moment of pure inspiration, highly recommended to fans of OPETH, AGALLOCHand early ULVER‘s classic albums.
OCTOBER FALLS was formed ten years ago by M. Lehto and the early releases „Tuoni” and „Marras”were dark acoustic music without the harsher elements. Released in 2003, „Tuoni” contained all acoustic music with similarities to old ULVER, late EMPYRIUM and maybe even TENHI.
A year and a half later, in 2005, the second official release and the first full-length, „Marras”, was released. The music was still classical guitar oriented, all acoustic, but piano was used a bit more.
The harsher elements were first introduced on the third official release – the band’s Debemur Morti Productions debut, „The Streams of the End” mini-album – and have since been the key element of the current musical approach. Blending folk sensibilities with harsh Black / Pagan Metal, OCTOBER FALLS had found a new niche.
More significant steps were taken towards the harsher material a year later with the second full-length album, „The Womb Of Primordial Nature”, which also welcomed M. Tarvonen (MOONSORROW) behind the drum kit for the first time.
Two years later, the same line-up was gathered again and the third full-length, „A Collapse Of Faith”, was recorded and released. That recording was without doubt OCTOBER FALLS‘ most mature effort so far, but also the last one with that line-up, as V. Metsola – the bassist since „The Streams of the End” – decided to leave after the album was released and the writing of new material had started.
The current musical style is a mixture of atmospheric acoustic music and harsher Black Metal-oriented material and could be compared to early acoustic ULVER, DRUDKH and PRIMORDIALblended together with a personal touch and strong melodies. Still, the early acoustic side has not been completely abandoned; there have been occasional acoustic releases through the years and there will also be similar releases again at some point on the horizon. In March 2013, „The Plague Of A Coming Age”, was again released on Debemur Morti Productions and represents a step forward from the previous material, with shorter songs and more varied material, and with the bass player S. Hinkka (ENSIFERUM) stepping in.