Rytmihäiriö was founded already in 1988 and was recognized through its Metal/Hardcore/Thrash style and lyrics influenced by absurd violence, heavy drinking of alcohol, suicidal tendency and much more. The concept of Rytmihäiriö is still the same as it was over 20 years ago, but it is still alive and doing exceptionally well. ’’Surmantuoja’’, Rytmihäiriö’s fourth studio album on Sakara Records is an excellent proof that the band is doing better than ever. The band has a second generation of fans coming and today one can see fans from the age of 14 years drinking ’Gambina’, smoking cigarettes and wearing a Rytmihäiriö shirt.

The album is not just headless banging and disturbing lyrics; the songs contain great groovy riffs, catchy choruses and melodies supported by the growling of Unto Helo. And let’s not forget the furious guitar solos. The band is evolving to the true direction without losing the sight of their roots. “Surmantuoja” delivers straight away and holds within great songs such as: ”Muovipussi päähän ja ruumis suohon”, ”Paluu raittiusleiriltä” and ’’Koska saatana sanoo niin’’. ”Surmantuoja” brings out the untold stories from the darkest places in Finland. Rarely a band can deliver almost as many emotions through a record compared to playing live. Rytmihäiriö is almost as close as one can be in this case.

The lyrics of Rytmihäiriö have through the years grown to having a cult reputation, but even though the singing is done in Finnish, the spirit of happening is so intense that it wouldn’t be hard to imagine them also to be drawing an international audience. As everyone knows one of the best ways to learn a language is through music, if one wants to learn the meanest and darkest words in Finnish, you have found the right band.

9 / 10

Arvo Partanen – 01.02.2011