Another Meara Kulubi event took place on September 26th in the Finnish city of Pori. This time, two talented bands took the stage: Omnivortex and Solus.
Solus represents an interesting and distinctive addition to the Finnish heavy music scene. Formed in 2020 in Rauma, this energetic band delivers a melodic dark/death metal sound, drawing inspiration from metalcore and djent as well. Their performance was unique; appearing as a trio, without a bassist, they still managed to instantly fire up the crowd and put on an impressive show.
Hailing from Helsinki’s underground death metal scene, Omnivortex is rapidly rising through the ranks of the music landscape. Blending elements ranging from thrash and technical death metal to dissonant black metal, Omnivortex creates music defined by frenetic, shifting rhythms that are utterly engaging. Alternating between clean melodies and raw, brutal sounds, they offer a comprehensive and varied repertoire. Their performance was explosive, combining technical prowess with the frontman’s witty banter with the audience.
Despite a few minor technical audio issues, the evening was a success.
Finnish dark‑minded heavy music gains a powerful new chapter as Solus, the Rauma‑based melodic dark/death metal outfit, unveiled their latest EP, 4. Since forming in 2020, Solus has carved out a distinctive space within Finland’s extreme music landscape, blending brooding atmospheres with sharp modern influences.
“4” is a melancholic, timeline-driven work that follows the arc from birth to the end of
everything. The songs guide the listener with delicate metaphors, yet in an easily relatable way, through the winds of life, darkness, and dangers — moving from a state of ignorance toward trials and ultimately toward accepting the end of all things. Both the lyrics and the music create a constantly shifting mental landscape, and the way of thinking evolves as the songs progress — perhaps even toward reincarnation, as suggested by the album’s cover art.
The work carries several artistically layered themes and thought patterns around which the story unfolds:
– A person and life are like a painting — everyone strives to create their own version
– A person and life are like a plant, continuously tested and shaped by the environment, and not everything can be controlled
– The work can be compared to life, a phase of life, or even relationships — from which some lyrical elements are also drawn. Each of these begins and eventually comes to an end.
Key themes of the album include carefreeness, ignorance, disappointment, dependence, letting go, surrendering and loneliness.
The EP’s title comes from several factors. Firstly, this is Solus’s fourth release, excluding singles. It is also the first release on which all four members of the band contributed to the composition and final polishing of the songs — and it shows in the result. Most importantly, the EP contains four tracks, each portraying slightly different stages of life that together form the story. Nothing more complicated than that.
“4” is an excellent showcase of what Solus is capable of after all these years. This time, the stylistic direction leans heavier and more melancholic in line with the theme, but given the band’s versatility, Solus will surely be heard in different forms in the future as well.
Tracklist:
1: First Breath (03:29)
2: Sapling (03:27)
3: Black Roses (05:55)
4: Morior Solus (03:12)
Solus (Est. 2020, Rauma, Finland):
Toni Mäkynen – vocals, guitar
Toni Nurmi – guitar
Kristian Saine – bass
Eetu Valtanen – drums
(Juuso Itänen – backing vocals)
Composing: Toni Mäkynen, Toni Nurmi, Kristian Saine, Eetu Valtanen
Lyrics: Toni Mäkynen
Production, mixing and mastering: Kristian Saine
Recording: Taboo Music
Drum recording: V.R. Studio
Cover art: Toni Mäkynen (alkup. akryylimaalaus)
Label: Taboo Music
Music video production: Jami Määttänen
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