THIS WEEK I’M LISTENING TO...AURI – III Candles & Beginnings (Nuclear Blast)

It would be easy to dismiss Auri as Nightwish-lite, given that the principal instrumentalists are Nightwish’s founder member and band leader Tuomas Holopainen and his bandmate Troy Donockley, but there’s so much more to Auri than comparisons to the Finnish symphonic supremoes. Fronted by Johanna Kurkela, the trio quickly began to develop an identity of their own with the release of their previous outings (2018’s self-titled debut and its 2021 follow-up ‘II – Those We Don’t Speak Of’) and with ‘III – Candles & Beginnings’ they once again prove that they are no trifling side-project but a band with character and a catalogue of interesting and beautifully crafted songs.

While traces of folk, ambient, pop and symphonic and hard rock pervade the album it is beholden to no one single style. Kurkela, Holopainen and Donockley cleverly blend a range of influences to create an eclectic selection of material which, although not metal, is deeply progressive in its inception and delivery. It’s grandiose certainly, and the ten songs – most of which are never quite what they seem, with chugging riffs seemingly coming from nowhere (‘The Apparition Speaks’), for example, and a choral piece which eventually gives way to a piano-backed vocal passage of great beauty (‘I Will Have Language’) – combine to create an album to be absorbed by, not to leap around the room to. And, while there are odd passages where you think ‘ah, that could be part of a Nightwish song,’ such things are inevitable but are also irrelevant.

Auri_by_pete_voutilainen

Auri by Pete Voutilainen

The album’s cornerstones are emotion and diversity, and its highlights are the stunning execution of the material and Kurkela’s voice; seemingly one of great fragility – at times she calls to mind the early work of Kate Bush – her range and dynamism make it a further instrument to add to Holopainen’s keyboards and multi-instrumentalist Donockley’s guitars, Uilleann pipes, flute and whistles. Nightwish’s drummer Kai Hahto adds percussion sparingly as and when to top and tail some of the material, and Frank van Essen (strings), Jonas Pap (cello) and Juho Kanervo (bass) fill out the luscious soundscapes as and when their presence is required. As an album it’s a journey, rather than a destination; settle back and enjoy the ride.

Video clips:
‘Shieldmaiden’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiRz_u77qwY&list=RDBiRz_u77qwY&start_radio=1
‘Museum Of Childhood’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HBF4KfMKsw