TRENCH OF LONELINESS

With ITERUM NATA exploring our spiritual connections, it seems only fitting that the state of loneliness be elevated to the same worth as Christianity or Buddhism in one's quest for meaning and fulfillment. Probably the most melodic of Heikkinen's releases so far, and most accessible, or least inaccessible at any rate, "The Trench of Loneliness" is perhaps less varied but paradoxically less repetitive, and the hard rock excursions of its predecessor are largely absent. Arrangements are still chiefly cavernous 12-string and caressing synths that emerged from mellotron pupae, along with understated yet emotive vocals.

As before, several monumental tracks anchor the work, here the hypnotic instrumental "The Feather" (reminiscent of fellow Nords NORDAGUST), the anthemic "Forgotten Friends" and the TENHI on uppers "The Mountain" (though PROMETHEAN also comes to mind), which stands out for its percussion and uptempo if hardly blissful mood. Even the somewhat predictable course of "Bones in the Forest" is offset by the chill it invokes. "Losing Connection" empathetically speaks to the sorrow of the disappearing magic in any bond between two people or within a group. As the album winds down, the cloud is lifted somewhat, with a sense of optimism prevailing in both the words and music, not that the rest is depressing to me, as the protagonist faces his ennui head on throughout.

I think I am slightly partial to "The Trench of Loneliness" over prior works of ITERUM NATA as its themes and playing resonate more with my own experience. It's also Hiekkinen's meatiest release, being almost the length of a 1975 LP, offering scope for both losing and finding oneself again.