Aikaintaite, the incredible debut album from SYVEN, is out now via Vendlus Records. The opus bears over an hour of invigorating soundscapes which have been drawing incredibly detailed reviews from journalists who are simply floored by the album’s organic darkness and organic beauty. In honor of its release this week, Aikaintaite can now be streamed in its entirety.
Syven – Aikaintaite by EARSPLIT
SYVEN is the output of Aslak Tolonen (Nest) and Andy Koski-Semmens (Ereipia), the two Finland-based musicians fusing their insight into heavy folk-based themes, driven by shamanistic chanting and choirs, primordial rhythms in the atmospheric compositions created on Aikaintaite. Their stunning, heartfelt hymns bring to life the comprehensive themes of nature and the struggles of reality and the brutality of survival, as well as the wonderment and the solemn fulfillment that lies therein.
Handmade instruments form the cornerstones of SYVEN‘s sound, A.T. having built the 15-string acoustic kanteles, 12-string electric kanteles, Lapland drums and synthetic soundscapes himself. The production, recording, mixing, digital manipulation and hand-drawn artwork of Aikaintaite, was all handled by the duo themselves, wholly expressing the album in the full proper experience.
“…this is music unbound from stylistic borders and floating from deeper wells than the common ‘dark’ sounds.” – Avantgarde Metal
“As picturesque and vivid as it is haunting and desolate, the seemingly perfect artistic union between A.T. and A. K.-S. has taken the worlds of folk and ritual-based ambient music to new, personal heights which will be exceedingly difficult to meet, let alone approach.” – The Inarguable
“There is a solemn quality to this album – the sense of great strength carefully curbed and leashed. For those looking for a release that can become a ritual, for music that doubles as a pagan ceremony, Aikaintaite is perfect.” – Exclaim!
“I put the album on and was blown away by the rich density and otherworldliness of the soundscapes on offer… it is a deep expression of elemental power that should be part of every music lover’s collection.” – Alternative Matter
“..pure perfection, on every level. And it has already joined that small and exclusive list of records I hold to be truly remarkable and unparalleled, past or future.” – Transylvanianhungerrr
“It’s slow and purposeful; it’s heavy, dark and mournful, but lacks that amphetamine-urgency that seems to drive most other metal. 4/5” – MuzikReviews
“…gives me chills and it should do the very same to you if you have any kind of humanity left in you.” – Absolute Zero Media
http://syven.atolonen.cjb.net
http://www.last.fm/music/Syven
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Syven/179171838780488
http://vendlus.com