Year: 2026
Label: Misantropia Records
Finnish Hellboozer Union are one of those hidden obscurities of the underground, who enjoy a certain reputation but few know them more than by name. Of course, with only a handful of demos released since their formation in 1998, it’s no wonder Hellboozer Union isn’t a household name.
But still, ask anyone in the Finnish extreme metal underground, and quite likely Hellboozer Union will ring a bell. A small and vague one. One reason for this might be the fact that current and past members have been involved in some more famous acts, such as Darkwoods My Betrothed.
This five track, fifteen minute EP represents Hellboozer Union’s first baby steps outside of the demo realm. And whilst it doesn’t appear to recycle tracks from the demos, it’s stylistically a throwback to an older style of black heavy metal, one not often heard today.
Encyclopedia Metallum describes Hellboozer Union as black/thrash, and whilst that does have an inkling of truth to it, it doesn’t really do the sound justice. No, I stick to the “black heavy metal” mentioned above. Think acts such as Barathrum around Legions Of Perkele and Saatana, Impaled Nazarene at their most rocking, and some more obscure Finnish acts such as Wizzard and Gaurithoth. This is a mix of some sort of one-and-a-halfth wave black metal and heavy metal swagger, all drenched in beer and sweat.
In case the above names don’t help in pinpointing the sound… well, first of all, learn your ABC’s of black metal. Secondly. Instead of furious full-speed blasting and ice-cold, discordant tremolo, Hellboozer Union put their faith in a speedy mid-tempo plod, and their sawing guitars have a definite old thrash edge to them. The vocals are not so much an inhuman shriek as an alcohol fuelled, hoarse rasp.
I guess you could call this black ‘n’ roll, which isn’t really a thing, but it does sound right. Another reference: Carpathian Forest on Strange Old Brew (and Morbid Fascination Of Death) minus the norsecore elements.
At first, I wasn’t so sure about this EP. Yes, it sounds nice and the songs are solid, but it just didn’t feel like it hit the right notes. But after a couple of listens, I discovered it had really grown on me.
The EP’s biggest flaw is that the tracks tend to be a bit samey, cut a bit too much from the same cloth, but they compensate this with the sheer energy of the delivery. Nobody in their right mind is left cold by the furious rocking of Nude For Satan, for example.
The bottom line is simple: Hellboozer Union’s debut EP is fun. The slight monotony of style is compensated for by the energy of the delivery. This is not one of those “big” releases that have some kind of monumental impact on one. No, this is an EP to put on when you crack open a cold one, lean back and prepare to get wasted in good company. Sadly, at a mere 15 minutes, for that purpose it’s too damn short!
Only Death Is Real 