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**Oranssi Pazuzu - Mestarin Kynsi**
★★★★☆

In the frozen wastelands of Finnish extreme metal, where corpse paint meets cosmic horror and tremolo picking dances with synthesizer drones, Oranssi Pazuzu have carved out a uniquely unsettling niche. Their fifth full-length, "Mestarin Kynsi" (The Master's Claw), stands as perhaps their most accomplished statement yet – a psychedelic black metal odyssey that feels like being trapped inside a malfunctioning space station orbiting a dying star.

The band's journey to this point has been one of gradual evolution from their 2009 debut "Muukalainen Putoaa." What began as a curious experiment in melding second-wave Norwegian black metal with krautrock sensibilities has blossomed into something genuinely revolutionary. By 2016's "Värähtelijä," they'd established themselves as masters of atmospheric extremity, but "Mestarin Kynsi" finds them pushing even further into uncharted sonic territories.

Jun-His's vocals remain a primal force throughout, his Finnish incantations delivered with the conviction of a man possessed by ancient spirits. But it's the band's collective approach to texture and space that truly sets them apart. This isn't black metal that relies on sheer brutality – though when they unleash their fury, it's devastating. Instead, Oranssi Pazuzu craft soundscapes that breathe and pulse with organic malevolence.

The album's opening statement, "Ilmestys," immediately establishes the band's expanded palette. Beginning with haunting ambient passages that wouldn't sound out of place on a Tangerine Dream record, it gradually builds into a crushing wall of distorted guitars and blast beats. It's a masterclass in dynamic tension, showcasing the band's ability to create genuine unease through careful pacing rather than constant assault.

"Tyhjyyden Sakramentti" emerges as the album's most immediate triumph, a nine-minute epic that perfectly encapsulates everything that makes Oranssi Pazuzu special. The track's hypnotic central riff, built around a deceptively simple but utterly compelling melodic motif, serves as an anchor while waves of electronic manipulation and rhythmic complexity crash around it. When the song finally erupts into its climactic section, the payoff feels both inevitable and shocking.

The album's centerpiece, "Uusi Teknokratia," pushes the band's experimental tendencies to their logical extreme. Clocking in at nearly twelve minutes, it's a sprawling journey through industrial wastelands and digital nightmares. Synthesizer arpeggios bubble and mutate while the rhythm section locks into grooves that feel simultaneously mechanical and deeply human. It's the sound of technology consuming itself, beautiful and horrifying in equal measure.

Perhaps most impressive is how cohesive "Mestarin Kynsi" feels despite its adventurous spirit. The closing trilogy of "Oikeamielisten Sali," "Kuulen Ääniä Maan Alta," and "Taivaan Yläpuolella" flows together like movements in a symphony, each track building upon the last while maintaining its own distinct character. The album's final moments, with their layers of ambient decay and whispered vocals, leave the listener in a state of profound unease.

Production-wise, the album benefits enormously from the band's decision to work with Julius Mauranen, whose previous credits include Altar of Plagues and Dark Buddha Rising. The mix achieves that rare balance between clarity and chaos – every element has space to breathe, yet the overall effect remains overwhelmingly dense and immersive.

What's most remarkable about "Mestarin Kynsi" is how it manages to feel both utterly alien and strangely familiar. The band's Finnish roots ground their cosmic explorations in something tangible, while their willingness to embrace electronic elements prevents the music from falling into nostalgic pastiche. This is black metal for the digital age, acknowledging both the genre's ritualistic power and its potential for radical reinvention.

In an era where extreme metal often feels constrained by rigid genre boundaries, Oranssi Pazuzu continue to prove that the most interesting music happens in the spaces between categories. "Mestarin Kynsi" stands as both a logical progression from their previous work and a bold leap into unknown territory. It's an album that rewards patience an