Album Review: Von Hertzen Brothers – War Is Over
The theme of this record is something of a pipe dream given the current state of our planet – but hope might be what is needed to get everyone through this.
Terrorist acts in all corners of civilisation have struck a fear into the population. So the hopeful tones of this – the seventh record from the Finnish rockers – work a charm.
The three brothers – Mikko, Kie and Jonne – took it in turns to retreat to the family summerhouse outside of the capital Helsinki and write. The peaceful surrounds of what must be an idyllic location on the Eastern Sea have clearly worked for them.
The walls of sound and expressive melodies are as strong as ever and, while not being a concept album, the overriding theme of War Is Over weaves the record together with an uplifting feel throughout 99 per cent of its content.
And it’s big. The title track opens the record and sits 13 minutes in length. It’s almost like four mini-songs rolled into one. The fourth instalment in particular with its rolling guitars and high octane vocals repeating that title refrain over and over epitomises that theme of hopefulness.
In fact each track is a pretty epic adventure in itself. It’s like somebody has rolled Peter Jackson’s director’s cuts of both his Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies into one giant ball and sliced it into pieces again.
The positive uplift of the chorus in The Arsonist again breathes positivity. Mikko’s vocals fit perfectly. They soar in this track, allowed to roam by the reigned in riffs until Mikko and Kie finally let loose with a ferocious guitar-driven ending.
Jerusalem is an interesting number. It does hold an air of spirituality in its swooshing synths provided by special guest Janne ‘Burton’ Puurtinen of fellow Fins HIM. This is the definite ballad of the record.
The epic walls they can build are evident on Blindsight. The orchestral backing for the musical interludes brings back that hopeful sense of adventure. Of conquering. Of going forth to find oneself. Wait for the breakdown at the end, the thumping percussion of friend Sami Kuoppamaki punch the guitars forward. This really is a lot of fun.
A fine record, this should finally take their fame global and build on their success at home which has landed them an Emma Award – the Finnish equivalent to a Grammy. They deserve it based on this.
Rating: 8/10
Von Hertzen Brothers bring their epic walls of sound to Wolverhampton’s Slade Rooms on Saturday, November 18 – the final date of their UK tour.
