Inferno Magazine Announces Top Finnish Metal Albums of 2024

Inferno, Finland's premier metal publication, has revealed their most acclaimed domestic albums of 2024, following a vote by 20 critics and compiled by Tero Lassila. Here's their top 10 list with critical insights:

1. Wintersun - "Time II"
   "Despite influences from various sources, particularly Japanese imagery, the music remains quintessentially Wintersun," writes Elli Muurikainen.

2. Oranssi Pazuzu - "Muuntautuja"
   Jonna Ikonen praises: "Every moment paints horror visions in different shades and mercilessly dangles the listener by their feet beyond the edge of sanity."

3. T. Jarva and the Dark Place - "Post Festum"
   "This isn't just metal musicians being atmospheric - it's a thoroughly committed piece of work," notes Toni Keränen.

4. Swallow the Sun - "Shining"
   "While the band's sound remains characteristically heavy and melancholic, this release shows remarkable grandeur and luminosity, even hope," explains Eetu Järvisalo.

5. Iterum Nata - "From the Infinite Light"
   "Jesse Heikkinen is a virtuosic and exceptional musician whose vision is reaching masterful levels. Few in Finland create this kind of music - let alone globally," states Niko Ikonen.

6. Cemetery Skyline - "Nordic Gothic"
   "A debut full of skillfully and expertly recorded vision. Yes, please, and onwards," endorses Eetu Järvisalo.

7. True Black Dawn - "Of Thick-Circling Shadows"
   Joni Juutilainen notes: "It features slow and fast material, lurking atmosphere and aggression, but above all unique-sounding black metal that's hard to compare directly to others."

8. Mokoma - "Myrsky"
   "The scale ranges from extreme metal crushing to groovy alternative metal and more sensitive atmospheres," describes Vesa Siltanen.

9. Horna - "Nyx (Hymnejä yölle)"
   "The quintet is more professional than ever while still conveying the spirit characteristic of black metal," observes Joni Juutilainen.

10. Förgjord - "Perkeleen weri"
    "Perkeleen weri surprises with its clarity. The roughest distortion has disappeared, and the band seems to have gained special confidence and power," concludes Joni Juutilainen.