Doomed & Stoned — Aittala Offer Powerful Pandemic Post-Mortem on ‘Live to Regret’

Aittala Offer Powerful Pandemic Post-Mortem on ‘Live to Regret’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

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With so much of our shared media being safe and sanitized, it seems that music may be one of the few remaining bastions of honest and free expression – a kind of litmus test of the human condition. Certainly Raleigh, North Carolina band AITTALA bears both heart and soul on the band’s sixth full-length record, ‘Live To Regret’ (2022).

Written and recorded in the backdrop of COVID-19, Aittala commiserates with the heavy toll this whole miserable mess has taken on our relationships. The 11-track LP mingles elements of doom, sludge, groove, and thrash in seamless fashion for what amounts to a powerful pandemic confessional.

Beginning in down 'n’ dirty swing mode, the title track is delivered with all the metal fixings, transforming the track into a groovy vehicle for the band’s powers. I have a hunch you’ll be humming this one on your way home from work this week.

“Collateral Damage” follows and shifts us to an overcast mood full of dissonant sounds and a dreamlike chorus. I’m sure many will readily identify with its words:

They’re always on your heels
So keep looking over your shoulder
You have to watch your back
And try not to lose your composure

“Saint” is a bonafide doomer, leaning more towards the Warning side of the genre, and features some gorgeous guitar harmonies. As I was listening to the lyrical narrative, it struck me how every anguished note was played with absolute conviction.

“Cannibals” is a classic thrash attack with crunchy chugging guitars and squealing guitar action, while “Big Brother” is as mournfully doomy as it comes. Even with the most winteresque numbers, Aittala has a knack for surprising us, here with a groove metal B-section. The lyrical sentiment is imbued with the stubborn independence of bygone generations:

We fall to our knees and pray
As we prepare for judgment day
We worship the collective fraud
Big brother is now our god

Another highlight is “Juliet (2022),” closing the record with the tale of a demented Romeo and Juliet couple. There are overtones of horror, both through the hypnotic pacing of the song and the tension produced by harrowing guitar chords and a pulsating synthesizer.

Live to Regret by Aittala drops on Monday c/o Exitus Stratagem Records pre-order. Stick it on a playlist with Apostle of Solitude, Crowbar, Famyne, and Paradise Lost, with a dash of Slayer for good measure.

This is the Doomed & Stoned world premiere.

Give ear…




SOME BUZZ



Aittala (pronounced 'EYE-tah-la’) has been around since 1991 and in that time has developed a sound that is unique, progressive, and memorable. With a solid core of doom metal, they add hints of power metal, sludge and traditional metal, a feast of variety that is on full display in their upcoming seventh album 'Live to Regret’ (2022). Lyrically, the album chronicles a chaotic period of time for members of the band personally as well as the global events happening in parallel.

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The band comments on the album:

“Aittala is extremely excited for the fans to hear the new album 'Live to Regret.’ The pandemic was a stressful time for everyone, but it’s even much more stressful when you’re dealing with an unhealthy relationship that’s full of tension and animosity on a daily basis. A lot of toxic energy fueled the writing of the album and became something of a way to cleanse the spirit of the toxicity.

“We hope the fans hear the pain, pleasure, and passion that went into the writing of these songs. I think they’ll connect with these songs more than prior albums because they are more personal. Overall, we’re very pleased how the album turned out. It’s definitely the best Aittala album yet and we look forward to building on it in the future!”



The album has eleven tracks, each defying the limits of genre rules. There is the trash inspired track “Cannibals” that confronts the tightening grip of governmental monitoring and control. The sludgey “Big Brother” about the devolution/zombification of the human race due to technology. The smoky stoner infused “Never Forget” that talks about dealing with a toxic person along with many more.

'Live to Regret’ will be available on November 7, 2022, via Exitus Stratagem Records and was produced by Eric Aittala and John E. Wooten IV, who also mixed the record along with mastering by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering. Album artwork by Mariano Pugliese.




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