KOLMIKÄRKI

Kolmikärki (the title translates to 'Trident') is the first and, one might argue, the most experimental CMX album - though perhaps not in the most obvious sense of the word. Basically it's a hardcore punk album, but it's the only hardcore punk album I know of whose lyrics deal mostly with mythological concepts and whose cover shows a shaman riding a snake.

The first track, "Johdatus salatieteisiin" ("Introduction to the Occult") opens with some aphoristic spoken-word lines alluding to alchemy and proceeds into shamanistic drumming and chanting accompanied by an ethereal flute melody smoothly leading to the clerical intonation in the intro of "Sika ja Perkele" ("The Pig and the Devil"), a brutally intense hardcore song with sinister biblical overtones and fragmentary lyrics apparently examining the contradiction of freedom and determinism. The tracks that follow vary from the vigorous but hardly straightforward hardcore of "Nahkaparturi" ("Skin Barber") to the deeply mournful and poignantly delicate lament of "Suuri äiti" ("The Great Mother"), and from the heavy metal pastiche of "Pyörivät sähkökoneet" ("Rotating Electric Machines") to the light waltz of "Pyydä mahdotonta" ("Ask for the Impossible"), a tongue-in-cheek piece of music whose upbeat accompaniment and almost banally simple structure would make it a perfect song for a wedding reception - if it weren't for the utterly bleak and visually quite disturbing lyrics.

Overall A. W. Yrjänä's cryptic lyrics are even more difficult to grasp here than on the latter CMX albums. The immense amount of various mythological and literary allusions goes hand in hand with the dense and uncompromising nature of the music. Yet I wouldn't say that Kolmikärki is a particularly difficult album to approach. Some of the riffs are incredibly catchy and the delightfully crooked songs are simply fun to listen to regardless of whether the lyrics mean anything to you or not. It might also be worth mentioning that of the full-length CMX albums this is the one where Pekka Kanniainen's harsh and austere drumming is at its most intense.

It's easy to hear though that the band that plays on Kolmikärki is a band still searching for their direction (as well as their first steady lineup). A. W. Yrjänä's few attempts to sing instead of shouting or grunting are not quite there yet, and most of the songs rely more on raw energy than on carefully woven atmosphere. But the vision is there, and the emotion is definitely there. Even though Kolmikärki is not really a prog album (far from it, actually), I can imagine it appealing to someone looking for a unique and fiercely captivating musical experience.

This first long player album of CMX is suggested to be born "From consciousness and power" according the album cover note, and I fully agree with that statement. I think the most significant musical value in the album is implementing both intelligent musical elements to quite primitive hardcore punk sound basis, and creating something unique and original, mystical and enchanting.

The album starts with tribal evocation "Johdatus salatieteisiin", underlining the occult thematics dominating the album. This introduction is followed with the band's general sonic characteristics, constructed from contrasts of aggression and emotionally calm sequences. There are some very pleasant rhythmic details and compositional solutions realized, enrichening the listening experience of the more primitivelly atavistic raw rock basis' flow. These qualities are maybe most strongly present on song "Hiljaisuuden pelko", which though isn't my biggest personal favourites from the album tracks. The bass guitar is also very powerfully present with treble tones upfronted. Yrjänä's texts reveal his certain intelligence, shimmering with mysteriousness and blended with humor. Now later as I read his books, I think it is evident that he has matured even yet more higher levels. I however admit I felt some of his lyrics in the later albums of his career compromized. But I can't claim I could see directly to anybody's mind, and thus judge what would be totally sincere, and what made on purpose for achieving any calculated goals - A factor which I yet try always to analyze, and which means much for me due ideal of artists and audiences communication. The lyrics are neatly tied together thematically, and along with the musical solutions they create a really pleasant and solid semi-conceptual feeling. Especially as the album closer is also a shamanistic experimentation in line of the opening track, a circle of reference is conjured to this vinyl.

About the individual tracks, I would mention "Kaikki nämä kädet", containing somehow similar power and sound as the most amazing Sielun Veljet songs. "Pyörivät sähkökoneet" combines neatly rolling riffs and surrealistic lyrics, and following punk anthem "Taivas ja helvetti" is very good melodically, delivering pleasantly arranged alteration to the album's compositinal progression. "Suuri äiti" shimmers with melancholic ethereal pastoral calmness, and along with lovely lyrics it strenghtens the musical pallette of the album most perfectly. None of the compositions are displeasing, though maybe some of the humoristic and vulgar themes didn't appeal to me totally. But however I consider these ingredients as a part of these fellows honest self-expression, and the vinyl spins from start to end really painlessly, giving some kick to the ass and sharing the impressions from these lads. Also in the very fine song "Kuolemattomuuden ääni" these mentioned elements managed to amuse me seriously. The album releaser, record label Bad Vugum, is also one of my own favourite local labels, conducting good taste in their artistic line and voice out independent values. This album has also strong nostalghic values for myself, being one strong element on the soundtrack of my own youthhood.