Band:	Ajattara
Album:	Äpäre
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	March 2006

01. Hurmasta
02. Raato
03. Säälin Koira
04. Lautuma
05. Eksyneet
06. Hirsipuulintu
07. Tahtomattaan Syntynyt
08. Itse
09. Koito
10. Syntyni

Ajattara are always blamed of doing the same album over and over again, and while this statement is not entirely false, they still manage to enchant audiences with their "Dark Metal" style, which is nothing more than Black Metal, played in mid-tempo and sung in Finish.

The feeling between Ajattara productions is quite familiar, there are no radical changes from record to record, they play it safe and is paying them off, because with each record Ajattara consolidate themselves as a striving force in the Metal scene. A force that is releasing albums almost every year, maintaining themselves fresh in the heads of every metalhead. I picture the band gathered in the studio and saying, "well, we're going to record 3 albums today" and then they just wait and release each one every year, that's gotta be a tough job.

But maybe my input was wrong from the start, maybe I should apply the old saying "If it ain´t broken, don't fix it".

I like Ajattara music, so, why should I expect a change? Maybe Ajattara are beyond terms like progression, evolution and development, maybe they really like what they're playing and they want to remain in the same path.

With this tough on my mind I went to re-discover Äpäre (trans. "Bastard"), because I was only viewing the negative side on the first spins. And I must say it really turned out for the best, the catchy melodies and the somber atmospheres of this album are quite unique, to the point that I must say that I haven't heard any band that resembles Ajattara, and believe me, I've heard many bands.

So in a nutshell, if you like Ajattara previous efforts, you'll surely like this one, if you don't know the band, but you love melodic and catchy mid-paced Black Metal I strongly recommend to give this a try. And remember, "If it ain´t broken, don't fix it".