KARJALAN SISSIT "Karjalasta Kajahtaa" CD Reviews

From Phosphor Magazine (Germany)
What to expect from a release in an A5 booklet that contains old family and vacation pictures, and where most of the texts are unreadable because they are written in an unknown language. It turns out that Karjalan Sissit is from Sweden, but that the musician behind it, Markus Pesonen, is of Finnish origin and that this work, according to himself, is an expression of his Finnish roots. It was inspired by "that Finnish melancholic lifestyle in 70`s when the knife was the law: the tractor, vodka, sauna, humppa, esso bar, the whole goddamned register, haha !” as he puts it on his website. The CD opens with a track that totally fits the pictures in the booklet that forms the sleeve: a 1930’s musical type of song, a style that most popular all over the world in those days, sung in Finnish and titled Heili Karjalasta. But starting from track two, Sika Setä, it gets down to more serious business. The track opens with the sound of a man announcing something in a large and reverberating hall. The track continues with an industrial drone with heavy drums and an aggressive, loud, but distant screaming voice. Track three is an even more industrial symphonic type of track. A reciting voice on top of a slight pulsating drone starts the track and returns later on as a break. Heavy orchestra and choir samples with a drony backdrop break in to evoke some majestic scenery. Track 4 is another very symphonic and industrial track with a groaning and heavily treated voice. A theatrical high pitched, quite over the top male voice opens the next track, called ESS. Thundering drums with a far away screaming male voice and blaring brass wind instruments cut in to give this track a threatening atmosphere. What follows, Soon the stroke strikes, is a nice interlude. It sounds like a Scandinavian string concerto. The cyclic increasing and decreasing of the volume is somehow very consoling, and to me this is the most melancholic piece of music. Track 7, Jesus Ställde In, starts with a very broad and deep noise drone that continues throughout the song. A heavy orchestral beat cuts in, with blaring choir and brass. Despite the heavy noise it sounds very meditative, because of the repetitive recitation of the choir. A small break with a male voice saying something. The CD continues with Haulikolla Huolet Pois, which is a dark and moody orchestral drone. A mix of electronic and orchestra sounds, with a reciting voice drenched in heavy reverb. The second 1930’s traditional song, has a 2 quarter beat and because of that reminds me of those kind of Russian songs that you can also hear on the Berlin streets these days, played by busking musicians. Track 10 starts of as a growling and thundering drone. When the orchestra part cuts in it very much sounds like the orchestral music of a dark scene from a Russian epic movie. This is boosted by the alternation of loud and soft passages and the use of speaking voices. The CD ends with the third and last traditional musical song. Although Pesonen himself very much underlines that the music on Karjalasta Kajahtaa should depict the famous Finnish melancholy, to me the emotional dimensions of the music on this CD are much broader and complicated. The heavy orchestral and industrial parts are majestic, threatening, dark and sometimes aggressive and fierce. The traditional songs have that light-hearted-ness they are meant to have, and, of course, very much contrast with the industrial tracks. Karjalan Sissit delivered with Karjalasta Kajahtaa an intense release. (HS)

From the kuolleen musiikin yhdistys webzine (Finland)
Karjalan Sissit has brought it´s saga to the third chapter, and I can honestly say that this is by far mr. Pesonen´s most successful work. Karjalasta Kajahtaa (roughly translatable as "It thunders from Karelia") combines the best sides of his previous records – the oppressive darkness of the self-titled album and the dynamic compositions of Miserere, and builds on them to create a personal and coherent whole.
The most important, and personal, development on this album are the vocals – Pesonen´s anguished yelling marks Karjalan Sissit apart from Sophia and others it has sounded (a little too much) like in the past. Surprisingly, the lyrics are not glorifications of the Winter and Continuation Wars (Finland´s part in WWII), but a darkly humorous depiction of a dreary life full of hopelessness and depression. Elämän Kovat Koulut ("The Hard Schools of Life") tells about the relief of anti-depressants, in Jesus Ställde In ("Jesus Cancelled") there is hope that at least the Saviour would help, but "Jesus did not want to help anymore", Haulikolla Hommat Järjestykseen (roughly "Putting Things in Order with a Shotgun") is a direct continuation to the dark monologue on Miserere´s track Den Bittra Mannen. In Avioero ("Divorce") Pesonen yells "It is over now! I´ll drink my booze, and go to work, and as long as there´s food on the table, the wife may live!" After this it is quite fitting to end the album with war-time singer Tapio Rautavaara´s melancholic hit Juokse sinä humma, where he sadly sings "..no, the girl would not come with me, for I am a wild kind of boy..." The theme of Karjalan Sissit takes a new, clearer form on this album, a darkly ironic meaning: this is mostly a depiction of the dreary reality of the alcoholic Finnish worker – in a grey world between heavy labour, the circle of alcoholism, the bitching wife and the anti-depressants, the only source of joy or pride can be war-time memories, sweetened by time. The old schlagers used on the record, Heili Karjalasta, Tulipunaruusut and Juokse sinä humma are like warm memories from a time which at least feels better. The thundering martial drums on the other tracks can work as a different reflection of a past war: the thought of being a war-hero can be the only flame of self-confidence left, the only thing that can give strength, if only for a last deed; to speak the straight words to your boss, to leave your wife, or maybe take the whole jar of pills to get rid of the hard schools of life. Or even to take a shotgun and just blow it all to hell, yourself included. Winter War soldiers never surrender! The use of old schlagers has already become a trademark for Karjalan Sissit, and they work. Although the thought might have originated from Der Blutharsch, Karjalan Sissit seems to give them a much deeper meaning. Although I must say that three old schagers is a bit much for one album. The general style of the album is what might be expected: furious percussion, epic and sad orchestral loops and also a nice portion of noisy elements. All these ingredients, including the war-time hits, fit together perfectly, and there is none of the incoherent feel of Miserere. Instrumental tracks like Kunnia Isänmaa ("Honour of the Fatherland") and Kapitulieren? Nein! communicate well with the more aggressive ones. If some remarks need to be made, it might have worked better with at least one less recycled schlager and a bigger dose of distortion would have made an even more original result. -John Björkman / www.kuolleenmusiikinyhdistys.net

From the Obskure webzine (France)
Le troisième opus de Karjalan Sissit (alias le seul Markus Pesonen) n’est pas des moindres. Outre un packaging magnifiquement sobre (le CD se présente dans un carton double volet au livret quatre pages superbe), le disque est produit une fois de plus par Peter Bjärgo (nouveau nom d’artiste de Peter Pettersson, leader des formations Arcana et Sophia). Et il surclasse sans réelle comparaison possible "Miserere", le précédent enregistrement paru chez Cold Meat Industry. Les ambiances sépulcrales de ce nouvel album rejoignent dans l’esprit les passages les plus orchestraux que Bjärgo ait pu engendrer pour le projet Sophia : cuivres et cordes se fondent dans un ensemble percussif et militaire, cassé dans son rythme implacable par quelques plages de référence à la musique populaire des années 40 (cette habitude de contextualisation fait la marque de Pesonen). Karjalan Sissit, hommage à l’oncle de l’auteur (un sissit mort au combat) sert d’ailleurs d’exorcisme à cette période durant laquelle la Finlande s’opposa à l’Union Soviétique. Clairement, KS exprime un profond anti-socialisme. On adhèrera ou pas. Mais les orchestrations sont apocalyptiques, et la dramaturgie qu’instaure Karjalan Sissit forge un disque hypnotique et surpuissant, littéralement obsessionnel.Ce troisième album donne enfin à Karjalan Sissit ce qu’on attendait depuis belle lurette : de prometteur, le son de Pesonen devient enfin incontournable, dantesque, quasiment archétypal. Pesonen écrit aujourd’hui ses lettres de noblesse. Et son premier disque véritablement incontournable.

From the Aural Pressure webzine (U.K.)
This, the third full-length release from Karjalan Sissit, was also released on an LP and boxset on the Eternal Soul label earlier this year. Cyclic Law is beginning to look like one of those 'Must Have' labels to collect - beautiful packaging, outstanding music and this only their 8th opus.
"Karjalasta Kajahtaa" begins with a traditional Finnish Humppa piece. This is one of KJ's hallmarks, used in their Cold Spring self-titled debut and on their previous title "Miserere" on Cold Meat Industry. Further examples of this upbeat, Finnish folk music intervene with'Tulipunaruusut' and the finale 'Juokse Sinä Humma'. 'Sika Setä' begins with claustrophobic vocals over metallic, scraping samples and soon turns its hand to rhythmic, noisy, bombastic elements. The main difference with previous KJ releases is the very noisy, threatening vocal element, reminiscent of Rasthof Dachau. 'Kunnia Isänmaa' brings out the true flavour of this release - produced by Peter Bjärgö (Sophia / Arcana), the influences are very evident here. It could very well be Sophia and, ass-kissing aside, that suits me down to the ground! I just wish the track was a little longer. Fantastic neo-classical, bombastic ferocity. This is evident again on the penultimate track '11 Avioero' where hints of Laibach are obvious. 'Elämän Kovat Koulut' and 'Soon the Stroke Strikes' are beautiful, slow pieces with strings, and very similar to Arcana or Raison D'Être. Both feature, I think, radio samples and have a certain mournfulness to them.
'ESS' begins with insane vocals and the track soon enters into soundtrack territory. With proud choirs and military percussion, this would definitely suit fans of CMI acts such as In Slaughter Natives or The Protagonist. 'Jesus Ställde In' is another fine example of this type of orchestral sound and is very listenable indeed. 'Haulikolla Hommat Järjestykseen' is a quiet soundtrack-eque affair. Lots of strings, brass instruments and a few dark vocals in places make this quite threatening: reminiscent of 'Armenia' by Einstürzende Neubauten from their album "Drawings Of Patient OT". 'Kapitulieren? Nein!' is another slow piece beginning with dark neoclassical interlaced with glorious choirs and continuing with bombastic orchestral power. If you've heard previous Karjalan Sissit releases or are a massive Sophia fan like myself, you will not be disappointed. This is simply a must-have; a fantastic release for all true music lovers. Get it while you can....

From the Heathen Harvest webzine (U.S.A)
Karjalan Sissit has returned to the underground music arena with his strongest and most mature work to date. Cyclic Law Records have released the new album “Karjalasta Kajahtaa” in limited numbers. “Karjalasta Kajahtaa” is the first full-length CD release by Karjalan Sissit in some years. This comes as a real treat for those of us still relentlessly playing the first two CD releases. Karjalan Sissit continues the musical saga begun on the first two releases by further revealing dark musical landscapes defined by pounding drums and powerful choirs. Finnish folk songs and historical recordings are discreetly mixed into the album lending it a very nostalgic and historical feel. Many detractors of bombastic and often militant Orchestral / Industrial music have labeled Karjalan Sissit a nazi or fascist sympathizer. A small bit of research reveals that the artist is Swedish and his father was Finnish. The subject of war dominates the music as the artist’s father fought in a Finnish war against Russian invaders. The recent death of the artist’s father inspired this musical requiem that looks at war in both its glory and despair. Politically charged accusations against such music always falls upon itself when analyzed with a bit of research.
Karjalan Sissit delivers a monumental album that is akin to sitting through a classic symphonic work of music. Karjalan Sissit manages to expand orchestration, choirs and industrial sounds into a massive chronicle of war, history and humanity. The music encompasses diversity in sound and emotion whilst staying true to the acquired sound that has previously launched Karjalan Sissit into the spotlight as one of the most talented in this field of music. The album is really a journey through the human psyche and the experience of war and speaking of it in parts does not do it justice. The musical journey is accented by moments of martial fervor when drums and choirs seem swallow the world in exalted glory and mourning. Other moments bring the listener in closer and abandon the glory for exploration of the aftermath. The music and emotions communicated are complex and compelling. Fans of other martial orchestral / industrial acts like Der Blutharsch and Sophia will get dizzy with the sheer impact and scope of this album. The album will be an amazing treat for established fans of Karjalan Sissit. If you thought the last album had mastered this artist’s sound then think again. “Karjalasta Kajahtaa” will leave you basking in the glory of victory, sobbing in the aftermath of atrocities and heading to the front to join the bold resistance. Fans of classical music or historic European folk would most likely find the narrative aspect of the music and the sheer emotion a nice break from the more standard fare. Persons with an interest in war, strife, history and Europe will also find a strange and wonderful journey within. In addition, fans of dark music of any shade with an open mind will find a blazing torch of an album that will burn in your heart long after you finish listening. Faeries that are new to such music but like the description should research the bands website and dive right in. If you have always loved the dramatic and often over the top music of old film classics like The Ten Commandments and Ben Hur then “Karjalasta Kajahtaa” is waiting for you!

From the Chain DLK webzine (U.S.A.)
Montreal-based Cyclic Law (label for dark/ritual/industrial music) put out the third full lenght album of Swedish death-industrial artist Markus Pesonen, a.k.a. Karjalan Sissit, presented in a gorgeous A5-sized textured 4 pages book with pictures of families and events from the first half of the last century. "Karjalasta Kajahtaa" brings us a wave of cold, isolationist, melancholic, blackish blend of industrial, ambient, neo classical and dark music. This album (produced by Peter Bjärgö at Erebus Odora) introduces the heavy presence of vocals, in the form of screams, inciting propaganda shouts, voices, chants and choirs (more about that in a minute), and has a quality and a dynamism that is rare to find, and above all lives two parallel lives: at first you'll encounter abhorrent and annihilating soundscapes that would perfecly match many of the old Cold Meat Industry roster's artists, but on the other side you'll be faced with these pompous, frighteningly real-sounding, teutonic-war-anthem-like compositions of choirs, percussions and orchestral arrangements that might remind of a grandiose combination of Laibach and Les Tamoures Du Bronx (and what union that would be!), stomping on industrial cans and generating other sorts of rhythmical fanfare, which scans the pace at which the quire belt out resounding hymns and the exalted brass section harmonizes and calls for action and advancement. To add to the general eastern-european vibe, the CD opens and closes with old traditional folk music in a language that seems croat or polish or something (I'm not sure). Indeed a great record of its kind, authentic, original, rare, powerful, mind-altering and disheartening.

From the Gothtronic webzine (Holland)
This is the third cd of the Finnish project Karjalan Sissit and this ‘Karjalasta Kajahtaa’ cd has been released on the fairly new Cycic Law label from Montreal, Canada. The cd is limited and has been released in a A5 fold cover with tasteful artwork which visually revives pre-war times. The music and philosophy of Karjalan Sissit is drenched with misanthropy, violence and alcoholism. Also fascination for the pre-technological times before the second world war plays a major part, through image and sound. The cd starts with a piece of Finnish humpa in ‘Heili Karjalasta’. The second track ‘Sika Seta’ is a extremely heavy percussive industrial piece of sonic violence. The third track ‘Kunnia Isanmaa’ sounds like we are used of with Karjalan Sissit: heavy percussion, opera-like singing and bombastic atmospheres with industrial sounds in the background. This is a deliciously misanthropic and above all fierce and intense piece of music. The slow dark ambient drones and vague vocal samples play their part in the foruth track ‘Elaman Kovat Koulut’ , in which a male voice brings spoken word like vocals too. In track five ‘ESS’ the metal percussion machine slashes and drums heavily again, this time combined with disorted female opera singing. In the sixth track ‘Soon the Stroke Strikes’ it all slows down and with the decrease in speed, the aggression gets temporarily sublimated in a slowly moving and meandering dark ambient track. Track 7 ‘Jesus Stallide in…’ is again a heavy track with baroque neo-classical style elements. The eight track ‘Haulikolla Hommat Jarjestykreen‘ is a song with treathening vocals combined with enthralling strings, industrial noise and piercing percussion, then a aggresive vocal part sets in through which it all becomes even more raw and treathening. The music has been looped and the percussion breaks everything down to pieces. The last tracl ‘Juokse Sina Humma’ is a traditional humpa song which perfectly closes this third cd by Karjalan Sissit.

From the Guts Of Darkness webzine (France)
Auteur de deux albums plutôt bien faits mais pas révolutionnaires du genre, le finlandais Markus Personen monte d'un cran la puissance de son ambient symphonique et martiale avec ce nouvel opus, présenté dans un superbe packaging (il va falloir s'habituer, on est chez Cyclic Law !). Deuxième grande surprise, le travail de Peter Bjärgo (ex-Petersson) de Sophia/Arcana sur le mastering et les arrangements. On n'est donc pas étonné de retrouver la majesté et la puissance dévastatrice de la musique du suédois sur ce 'Karjalasta Kajahtaa" et particulièrement sur les momumentaux 'Requiem : Out From This World', 'Jesus Ställde In', 'Sika Setä' ou 'Se On Loppu Nyt'. Percus martiales, ambiance apocalyptique, samples guerriers, tout a été ici amélioré pour vous donner une impression de grandeur. A l'instar de nombreux groupes européens, la touche 'traditionnelle' est présente ici avec quelques vieilles ritournelles finlandaises mélancoliques ('Juokse Sinä Humma' qui clôt superbement l'album ou 'Heili Karjalasta' qui sert d'intro). Ambiances sombres donc, nappes glauques à la Nordvargr/MZ.412 sur 'Elämän Kovat Koulut', cinématographiques sur '...And Soon I´ll Stroke' et 'Haulikolla Huolet Pois'. Le son énorme permet de placer cet album sur le haut du panier, d'autant plus que l'alternance plages calmes/éruptions martiales offre un panel d'émotions plutôt large. Si l'empreinte de Sophia entâche quelque peu la personnalité de Karjalan Sissit, il serait toutefois regrettable de bouder cet excellent disque sous prétexte que 'cela ressemble à ci ou à ça'. Une très bonne livraison Cyclic Law une fois de plus. May 2004 5/6