Oranssi Pazuzu | Artist
Oranssi Pazuzu is a Finnish psychedelic black metal band formed 2007 in Tampere Finland by vocalist and guitarist Juho "Jun-His" Vanhanen, drummer Jarkko "Korjak" Salo, guitarist Moit, keyboardist and percussionist Ville "Evil" Leppilahti, and bassist Toni "Ontto" Hietamäki. Moit left the band in 2016 and was replaced by Niko "Ikon" Lehdontie, formerly of Kairon; IRSE! The band's sound can be described as a combination of black metal, psychedelic rock, space rock, and progressive metal. The band members themselves have mentioned music influences such as Death Grips, Portishead and My Bloody Valentine - all decidedly not traditional Black Metal by nature. The band recorded their debut album, Muukalainen puhuu in 2008 in Korjak's family cabin. It was released via Violent Journey Records in 2009 and followed in 2010 by a split LP with Candy Cane. Their second full-length album, Kosmonument, was released in 2011 through Spinefarm. Then 2013 Svart issued the follow-up, Valonieluwhich which was produced and engineered by London-based producer Jaime Gomez Arellano. The band's next album Värähtelijä was released in 2016 and received positive reviews from music outlets such as Allmusic, Pitchfork and Spin. Lehdontie, of fellow Finnish band Kairon' IRSE! joined Oranssi Pazuzu in 2016, initially as a live member and later on as a full-time member. In 2017, the band released the two-track EP Kevät / Värimyrsky., then their fifth album Mestarin kynsi in 2020. Their recent 2024 album Muuntautuja is attracting rave reviews, including the following from RYM: "Finnish Avant-metal group, Oranssi Pazuzu strikes the ear with a special sound, heavy in their razor-like guitar and synth, and slippery in their inebriating bass slides and kick drums. Pervasive rhythms unleash onto the listener, pulling them into a vortex of buzz; sinking bleeding teeth into shamanistic industrialism." The band is also a favourite of the inimitable John Doran of The Quietus, who wrote "Oranssi Pazuzu are one of the greatest heavy, psychedelic, metallish bands in the entire damn world, partially due to the fact that they resist easy classification and don’t really sound like anyone else." The band members also have other projects under the banner of The Wastement Collective, which includes the ten member Waste of Space Orchestra, and the four member band Atomikylä, both of which comprise members of Oranssi Pazuzu and fellow Fins Dark Buddha Rising. Standout Oranssi Pazuzu albums include Muukalainen puhuu (2009), Valonielu (2013), Värähtelijä (2016), Mestarin kynsi (2020), and Muuntautuja (2024). Also recommended is the 2019 live album Live at Roadburn. The band takes its name from "oranssi", the Finnish word for the colour orange, and "Pazuzu", a wind demon from Babylonian mythology.
Artist Website: oranssipazuzu.com
Featured Albums: Oranssi Pazuzu
Related Artists: Waste of Space Orchestra, Dark Buddha Rising, Kairon; IRSE!
