Shred: Stam1na - Nocebo

1. Pirunpaska 
2. Valtiaan Uudet Vaateet 
3. Tavastia Palamaan! 
4. Puolikas Ihminen 
5. Aivohalvaus 
6. Rabies 
7. Lepositeet 
8. Nomad 
9. Ei Encorea 
10. Arveton On Arvoton

My quest to find the best record of the year continues with a promising entry. There was another record back in 2010 which I might have overlooked when I entitled Herra Ylppö's 2^nd record that year's best. Stam1na released their masterpiece Viimeinen Atlantis (Last Atlantis) that year. What was so special about that record was that it told a haunting story about humanity's last moments on this planet. Earth's resources had been depleted, natural disasters were sparked by the climate change and every nation was at war. This kind of every man for himself situation will be a reality someday, but our generation won't be there to see it although it's partially caused by us. Talk about an environmental awakening through music.

Viimeinen Atlantis made Stam1na a big band in Finland, so Nocebo is one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. It was certified gold already in its first day on sale. While Stam1na still sings in Finnish, there is already one song on this album that is partially sung in English (Nomad). Not just that, but reportedly English lyrics exist for all the songs in case the band decides to get back to the studio to tape them and re-release this record entirely in English for international markets.

Listening to Stam1na’s music is like someone's arms came through the speakers to pull your hair and repeatedly smack you in the face with a pace of 200 punches in a minute. Yet under all this aggression and winding speed the music manages to be very melodic, catchy and even sophisticated. I don't have even half the theoretical knowledge of music to completely explain what's going on, but I summarize everything by saying that it works. These songs are multilayered and each listen reveals something more, making the record better and better. I have listened to this album over a dozen times in two days and I simply won’t get bored of it.

Nocebo isn’t as serious as its predecessor. For example, some of the lyrics of the first song are simply A, B, C, D E, F and G to demonstrate which chords are played. While Nocebo doesn’t fall in the category of theme albums, medicines, illnesses and the human body are mentioned in several songs, giving the album an organic atmosphere.

Pirunpaska (Devil’s Sh**) acts only as an intro as the record really gets going in the second song, Valtiaan Uudet Vaateet (Sovereign's New Claims, a pun from the story Emperor's New Clothes). This is possibly one of the best songs I have ever heard, mainly thanks to its fantastic c-section and guitar solo which frankly, is only a standard to Stam1na. Rabies starts with a striking, addictive drum fill and even without these three seconds of triumph this record deserves a special mention for its drums. Great drummers like Teppo Velin are sadly far and between (because everyone wants to play guitar), but Stam1na has nothing to worry about in this department.

It is tricky to find other highlights from Nocebo because it's so consistent and thought out from the beginning to the end. Songs bridge to each other nicely and the velocity stays way above the speed limit the whole time with exception to Lepositeet (Sleep Ties) which is a song about sleep deprivation and is described as the official ballad of this band. Yeah right.

Stam1na' is one of those bands that have never released an album which could be rated lackluster or mediocre. All their records are great and this fifth album manages to raise the bar even higher. Stam1na's previous albums are still very much worth listening to, Nocebo doesn't overshadow them, but it's a product of successful evolution.

Much of the praise should also be pointed to Nocebo's international producer Joe Barresi who has been able to focus this albums sound to get the best out of it. Last autumn a Finnish recording artist called Manna made a record with an American producer and the opposite of Nocebo resulted of this collaboration. Stam1na shows that a Finnish band and a  producer from USA can be a match made in heaven.

Side note: You may want to think twice before watching this rather disturbing video. Listening is a whole different case.