Ianai – Sunir
Release Date: 10th June 2021
Label: Svart Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Alternative Folk, World Music.
FFO: Vévaki, Lindy-Fay Hella, Rúnahild, Kati Ran, Kauan, Theodor Bastard.
Review By: Hillary Wisniewski
In ages long past, people held union with forces beyond their comprehension through music. Whether to honour the complexities of the natural world, celebrate a successful hunt or victory, or to commune with the dead, music served a purpose beyond simple enjoyment of sound. Such is the case for Ianai. This is a project shrouded in mystery; the driving force is Ianai Trevenial, who is described as “…the single-entity, multi-instrumentalist voice from the other side of the veil…” and Ianai is “…mythos in the making.” They hail from Finland and are accompanied by artists from a variety of bands such as Sisters of Mercy, Swallow the Sun, Massive Attack, Lord of the Lost, HIM, and others. Additionally, talent from the world music scene and classical orchestras contribute to the dynamics sounds on Sunir. My dear reader, you may be wondering why this album is in the mix of Metal Epidemic reviews. I myself was somewhat baffled when this came to me as an option to review, but I can honestly say I am grateful to have crossed paths with this gem. Listening to Ianai is akin to taking a musical journey into another realm.
Some albums produce substantial amounts of visual associations when you close your eyes while listening. Sunir moved me from feeling as if I was in a spiral dance embracing the Gods of old, riding across vast plains in the light of the moon, seeing tribal dancers circle a fire and move energy and worlds, wandering in ancient forests with black earth, and ascending into another plane of existence. Gorgeous soundscapes and lush vocals allow listeners to connect with this work on a deep level. Discerning musicians will appreciate the vast talent involved in this album; there are elements of music from around the globe. O’Zana is a track that highlights the incorporation of these various influences. It features guitar and vocals laden with Middle Eastern flair while also incorporating classical strings and guitar, tribal drumming, and elements of European folk music. Horns bellowing open the track Manda Navaja which then slides into a swell of pulsing, churning percussion and guitars. Dreamy vocals become snarls at certain points, which compliments the general pace of the song. How refreshing that there was nothing repetitive on this album; each track boasted a unique sound, yet it meshed together to create a vast soundscape.
This may not be a metal album; however, I do think there are elements involved which my fellow metalheads will appreciate. Sometimes we might need to switch gears and step out of our comfort zone; Ianai will take you out of that zone and into another world. Buy the ticket, take the ride!
(4 / 5)
