NICUMO – The End Of Silence
- Posted on 13-03-2013
In my warped journalistic mind, I ponder thoughts like this: just as every young Scandinavian musician gains incredible opportunities to government assisted musical education programs, most Finnish lads dream of becoming rock stars. The perks are nice: adulation, access to booze, as well as a certain amount of fame and fortune if you play your cards right. While tens of thousands start the dream sequence in childhood, only a select few rise up the ranks to get their shot at glory. Nicumo feel their time is now, as six years into their development as a melodic rock/ melancholic metal band, they unleash a blockbuster debut album with "The End of Silence".
The guitar tone has this Tuomas Saukkonen edge (Before The Dawn, Dawn Of Solace) as guitarists Tapio Anttiroiko and Atte Jaaskela make you cry, smile, and gain clarity over their driving, melancholic riff tapestry. Vocalist Hannu Karppinen definitely will evoke comparisons to Ville Laihiala (Poisonblack/ ex-Sentenced), especially with some of the lower, throaty action in "All Gone" and "Difference". Rounded out with a solid rhythm section that doesn’t over-extend their skill sets but keep the songs in focus and on target, bassist Sami Kotila and drummer Aki Pusa possess this alt rock flair at times on the engaging "Devil" while also giving the listener a pure, heads down heavy vibe on "My Bullet".
If I were to lock Nicumo down to a specific set of artists to capture their musical outlook, the gritty sound of Morian against the pioneering Sentenced with this hypnotic, effervescent emotional outpouring best encapsulates these 10 songs. "The End of Silence" could gain a large buzz from the underground, let’s hope this Finnish quintet has years of creativity left to present to the world, because based on this effort Nicumo deliver everything and more in their music.