The music of Finland's Hallatar is born from a place of great loss and sadness. Juha Raivio, of Trees of Eternity and Swallow the Sun, constructed the new death doom project following the loss of his partner, Aleah. "After the death of my beloved and my life partner Aleah Starbridge on April 18th a year ago; I have been gathering writings, lyrics, and the poems of Aleah to keep them safe and close to my heart." Raivio said in a press release for the band's upcoming debut record. "About one month after the world came down on the blackest day of my life; I knew I needed to pick up the guitar and try to create something or I would be truly destroyed."
Raivio indeed created something beautiful to commemorate to his love. Joining Juha, Amorphis vocalist, Tomi Joutsen, and former HIM drummer, Gas Lipstick, brought No Stars Upon the Bridge to life. For "My Mistake" in particular, Draconian vocalist, Heike Langhans joins the band. The nearly seven-minute song soon evolves into an existential introspection. Langhans and Joutsen take turns on the microphone. The former's gothic tone dovetails wonderfully with the latter's thunderous roar. However, much of the emotion attached to Hallatar's music is in Raivio's strings. Single, mournful notes and chords ring out throughout a vast majority of "My Mistake". They break, but momentarily, into towering riffs to emphasize the growl of Tomi's voice.
Give "My Mistake" a listen below. The Finns' debut album arrives October 13 through Svart Records and Pre-orders for No Stars Upon the Bridge and merch are available now. Hallatar is also on Facebook.
