HIRVEÄ Tuska Ja Pakokauhu CD

The 2019 album Tuska ja pakokauhu by the Finnish duo Hirveä, released through the Dutch label Dying Sun Records, is an exercise in extreme auditory endurance and crushing atmospheric weight. Serving as the band's full-length debut after two well-received demos, the record delivers a suffocating blend of Sludge, Doom, and Drone Metal that is deeply rooted in the Finnish tradition of bleakness and sonic filth. The project is composed of members Sarvet and Sorkat, with the latter also known for his work in the experimental act Oksennus, bringing a similarly unhinged and avant-garde sensibility to the rhythmic and vocal delivery of this release. The album is conceptually and physically split into two massive, sprawling compositions that each exceed twenty minutes in length: the title tracks Tuska and Pakokauhu. Together, they create a 41-minute descent into a landscape of distorted feedback, agonizing vocals, and slow-motion percussion that prioritizes raw emotional impact over traditional song structure. Presented in several limited formats—including a professional digifile CD and a cassette edition—the album is further distinguished by its stark visual presentation and its commitment to an organic, uncompromisingly ugly sound. For enthusiasts of the most extreme corners of doom and sludge, Tuska ja pakokauhu stands as a landmark of modern Finnish underground metal, capturing a sense of genuine dread and psychological panic.