Noitatulen vartija

This is a reissue of the last EP – released in 1999 – by this defunct Finnish band. I wouldn't call this "depressive black metal", but it sure as hell isn't uplifting and is such a downer at times that it crushes you with its doom and gloom before speeding up some and kind of "rocking" (for lack of a better word). There's a nice balance of "slow and crushing" and "fast-ish headbanging" on this little emotional rollercoaster, with strangely soothing melodies spread all over the place. It's not particularly polished and in fact has quite a raw edge to it and the shrieking vocals are ear-piercing. This music must have been written during some long Finnish winter nights...