Release Date August 14th, 2026
Format CD/Digital
Genre Heavy/Doom Metal
Origin Oulu, Finland
Occult Master formed in Oulu in 2012, initially working inside heavy rock and doom before a 2020 lineup change shifted the band toward faster rhythms, broader arrangements and more intricate song construction. Ari Eskola handles guitars, vocals, composition and lyrics, Toni Mäki plays bass and backing vocals, and Jussi Risto sits behind the drums. The band draws heavily from 1970s and 1980s heavy metal, with doom riffing, progressive rock detours and old school boogie woven into a dark, earthy framework. Its lyrical field ranges from damaged lives and social unease to horror, damnation and bleak humour. That mixture gives Occult Master a slightly crooked character.
The songs can turn from blunt heavy rock into eerie passages or more elaborate sections without abandoning their vintage foundation. After more than a decade of activity, “Occult Master” arrives as the band’s self titled debut through the Finnish label Inverse. It presents a trio with a firm attachment to classic metal structures, rough edged singing and riffs built around tempo changes, uneasy atmosphere and plain rhythmic motion. The lineup is compact, and the music reflects that setup. Guitar, bass and drums remain central, with no need for ornamental layers or studio excess. The result is rooted in an earlier heavy metal era, though the arrangements reach beyond basic doom formulas through shifting meters, extended guitar lines and sudden changes in pace.
The album contains nine songs and sits closest to heavy doom with progressive and boogie rock threaded through its structure. “Just Another Nail In The Failier’s Coffin,” “Island Of Leper,” “Lucifer’s Henchman” and “Ground Of The Damned” frame the darker side of the release, while “Heavy Metal Madness” and “Sorry Soul” bring a looser, more playful streak. Ari Eskola’s guitar work is the main engine, switching between stomping chords, winding leads and extended passages that recall late seventies hard rock. Toni Mäki’s bass often follows the riff closely, adding low end motion without turning the songs into technical exercises. Jussi Risto’s drumming stays firm and active, especially when the arrangements move away from doom pacing into quicker, more angular sections. Eskola’s vocals have a coarse, weathered tone that suits the occult and downcast subjects, though the phrasing can become flat when the melodies need a firmer hook.
The production by Jussi Risto, with mixing and mastering by Kimmo Lukkari, places the guitars forward and gives the rhythm section a sturdy base. The tones retain rough edges, though the busier progressive passages could use more separation. Cymbals and guitar leads occasionally compete in the upper range, and the vocals sometimes sit too close to the riff. The mix has enough depth for the slower riffs, although quicker passages lose definition when guitars and cymbals converge. The album’s main issue is editing. Some ideas run longer than their payoff, and the shifts between doom, boogie and progressive rock do not always form a smooth line.
There are riffs with character, capable playing and several effective transitions, though the writing often stops one step before a song becomes gripping. “Occult Master” is a respectable debut with enough variation to prevent monotony, though its better ideas are spread across material needing firmer cuts and more distinctive vocal hooks. The core is present. A more disciplined selection of riffs, shorter developmental sections and more focused choruses would raise the next release considerably.
|6.0
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