CD REVIEW: PRODUCES REASON by Sleep of Monsters

THIS album has only now ventured out into the big wide world after it was originally only available in forest-filled Finland where it achieved some success. And we should be grateful to Svart Records for giving us the chance to hear it.

Sleep of Monsters was formed in 2012 by Babylon Whores veteran Ike Vil.

The band – consisting of Ike Vil on vocals, Sami Hassinen and Uula Korhonen on guitar, Mäihä on bass, Janne Immonen on keyboards and Pätkä Rantala on drums, alongside The Furies who are the vocal talents of Hanna Wendelin, Nelli Saarikoski, and Tarja Leskinen – has come up with 11 excellent tracks on a memorable and interesting album.

It’s an offering that is surprisingly easy to listen to. It rocks without the incessant hurricane-like blast of good heavy metal and owes more to a prog rock style in that its songs are carefully layered and expansive, almost symphonic at times.

Listen to it and you get hints of Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Candlemass and even those classic occultists Coven. It brings past and present styles together brilliantly and each new track is a surprise, and a pleasant one at that.

It rocks in parts and then the heaviness is surpassed by moments of delicacy and introversion. A CD which is thoughtful and carefully crafted. It’s no wonder the Finns loved it so much!