REVIEW

The fifth album from Finnish doomgaze project Shedfromthebody.

Shedfromthebody is the solo project of Finnish artist Suvi Savikko. Rooted in visual art, Savikko embodies a fully DIY ethos, handling not only the music itself but also the artwork and music videos. Since debuting in 2018, the project has carved out a distinct style that merges gothic, darkwave, shoegaze, and doom metal with the mystical melodic sensibilities of Nordic folk.

While the previous album “Whisper and Wane” leaned more heavily into Nordic folk textures and hypnotic atmospheres, this new record pushes further into darker and heavier territory. Progressive rhythmic structures play a larger role throughout, surrounding the album in a disorienting groove and suffocating tension.

#1 “Crossing” unfolds like a piece of dark folk weighed down by earth-shaking drums. Savikko’s voice briefly emerges between stretches of silence like a flicker of light, only to be swallowed once again by crushing guitars and shadowy textures.

#3 “Nature’s Weapons” presents one of the album’s most striking evolutions, built around an unsettling 5/4 rhythm, ominous riffs, and venomous harsh vocals. As the song twists and surges like a violent current, moments of clean vocal serenity provide fleeting relief amid the chaos.

Without sacrificing its mystical aura, the album descends deeper into darkness, constructing what feels like an entirely new mythology for the project. Its overall quality stands shoulder to shoulder with “Whisper and Wane,” but listeners seeking a heavier and more oppressive incarnation of Shedfromthebody may find this release even more compelling.

Recommended for fans of Dead Can Dance, Chelsea Wolfe, and Ethel Cain.