Finland has a long-standing tradition of atmospheric, quirky progressive rock, from genre forefathers like Wigwam, Magyar, and Tasavallan Presidentti to modern-day stalwarts such as Sammal and Liekki. Svart Records is proud to present the latest link in the chain: Malady. Even though the band are deeply into the retro aesthetic, and building the album with the right kind of sounds took plenty of effort, the music is not just about being vintage. The storytelling mood of the meandering songs is supported by an analog soundscape. Maladys music is, at the same time, subtle and substantial.
Malady, perhaps the finest current torchbearers of the Scandinavian progressive rock tradition, release their third album Ainavihantaa (Perennially Verdant) on Svart Records. Performing in their native Finnish language, Malady have already managed to acquire international cult following with their earlier albums Malady (2015) and Toinen toista (2018). The new album on one hand continues in the same bold organic retrofuturist fashion theyre known for, while on the other the lineup addition of Taavi Heikkilä on saxophone adds a layer of air into the music and a dash of jazz too. The foundation of the band still lies in the Finnish progressive rock tradition. The congruence of musicians playing together live in the studio creates a unique reciprocal entity that sets Malady in a sphere of their own.
