There’s something about Finnish Black Metal that hits differently. Maybe it’s the cold, the darkness, or the way that every band from that country seems to be born already furious at the world. Whatever it is, Victimarum have bottled that rage, distilled it into pure venom, and unleashed it on their debut album Seitsemän soihdun valossa — and Christ on a broken cross, it’s an absolute monster.
From the opening seconds of Hovissa yön ruhtinaan, this thing grabs you by the balls and doesn’t let go. The riffs come tearing out of the darkness like a pack of rabid wolves, the drums crash and thunder like they’re summoning a blizzard, and the vocals? They don’t just scream — they tear. They claw through your ears, filled with that distinctly Finnish brand of despair and fury that makes even the most seasoned Black Metal listener sit up and pay attention.
This is a debut, yes — but it sounds like a declaration of war. Victimarum aren’t politely introducing themselves to the scene. They’re storming the gates of the Finnish Black Metal throne, screaming “We’re here, and we’re ready to burn it all down.”
There’s an urgency to Seitsemän soihdun valossa that makes it feel alive — like it’s breathing, snarling, and bleeding in real time. You can feel the texture in those riffs — the cold sharpness of the guitar tone, the hollow punch of the snare, the low-end churn of the bass like shifting earth. Nothing feels fake or overproduced. It’s all meat, bone, and blood.
But what I really like is that Victimarum manage to take that traditional raw Finnish sound — think Sargeist, Baptism, early Horna — and give it their own identity. There’s melody hidden under the filth, not in a way that softens the impact, but in a way that makes the aggression feel earned. These aren’t just random tremolo riffs tossed together; they’re crafted. Each one builds on the last, rising and falling like waves of violence.
The drumming is relentless — not just constant blast beats for the sake of speed, but dynamic, shifting, alive. There are moments where it feels like the drummer is trying to physically destroy his kit, and others where he pulls back just enough to let the atmosphere creep in before the next assault. That control, that sense of timing, is what separates the good from the great, and Victimarum are firmly in the latter category.
Vocally, it’s pure fire. The delivery is full of poison and pain — you can feel the hate, the contempt, the sense of something ancient and unforgiving rising up from the depths. There’s no attempt to prettify or modernise the sound. This is old-school Black Metal spirit reborn in a new vessel.
Thematically, Seitsemän soihdun valossa (which roughly translates to “In the Light of Seven Torches”) feels ritualistic — like a summoning. There’s a ritual fire burning through the record, an intensity that makes every track feel like a separate invocation, a hymn to destruction and transformation. It’s not just about rage — it’s about transcendence through rage. That’s what makes Finnish Black Metal so uniquely powerful when done right, and Victimarum absolutely nail it.
If this is Victimarum’s first offering, then we’re witnessing the birth of something truly formidable. Seitsemän soihdun valossa isn’t just a debut; it’s a fucking battle cry. It’s Finland reminding the world that when it comes to Black Metal — true, uncompromising, frostbitten Black Metal — they’re still the undisputed kings of the North.
Seitsemän soihdun valossa is available from the Victimarum Bandcamp page.
CHOICE CUT: Tulenkantaja
BLACK METAL ARCHIVES VERDICT: Victimarum light their seven torches and set the world ablaze. Seitsemän soihdun valossa is a furious, defiant debut — cold, violent, and absolutely uncompromising. Finland remains the frozen heart of Black Metal, and Victimarum are ready to carve their name into its throne with blood and fire.
