My definitive lineup:
Aadolf Virtanen - Bass
Heikki Malmberg - Drums
Marko Utriainen - Lead Guitars
Rainer Nygård - Vocals, rhythm guitars
I really don't have a real connection to Finnish Diablo; only to their third album, Eternium, which I discovered when it was released; and a handful of other material. I really don't know why, because I find their brand of low-tuned heavy metal quite neat and listenable.
The stuff they play is pretty easily recognizable - the instruments are tuned to low B (That's pretty deep. Not Meshuggah-deep, but deep nonetheless.) and most songs are based on heavily syncopized and offbeat guitar riffs on which Marko Utriainen harmonizes often jagged and angular melodies. Their influence especially from Meshuggah is clearly audible in some songs, and one could say that their music is mainly Meshuggah simplified, composed to fit a regular metal song structure and finally spiced with melodic influence from such Gothenburg metal bands, as Dark Tranquillity and early In Flames.
Also Heikki Malmberg's drumming is worth of a note - usually he does not follow the Tomas Haake tradition in which the kick drums follow the offbeat guitar riffs while the hands maintain a steady beat in crotchets, but instead holds a steady pulse with a regular drum figure, and occasionally throws in impressive fills, figures and solos. His playing style supports the style of Diablo's music, which is angular yet relatively simple, and he doesn't seem to have the need to show off - unless he is given a chance, in which his drum prowess is often presented.
The same goes with the guitar leads of Marko Utriainen. His guitar solos and leads are usually not that impressive if only technical aspects are regarded, but his sense of melody and harmony is superb, and frequently the solos bring out qualities from the songs that would've been absent without the solo. They offer surprising twists in melody, are often simple enough to be "singable", and are also many times cleverly harmonized with a second lead guitar, bringing about a very recognizable tone to his playing. As with Heikki - it also feels that he knows his instrument through and through, but he plays what fits their music without the real need to show off.
The only person I have really nothing special to say is their bassist, Aadolf Virtanen. His bass lines usually do nothing more than double the guitar riffs. Only when the guitars are quiet, his deep, rumbling bass can be heard, creating a thick, oppressive atmosphere to the songs. The only aspect he is somewhat remarkable though, is his stage presence in their concerts. I've seen Diablo once live, in 2006, and then the only one who was putting up a real show was Aadolf, not staying one moment in one place. Good for him!
Probably the only one I have less flattering things to say is Rainer Nygård, the man in charge of the vocals and rhythm guitars. I have nothing bad to say about his guitar work though, the riffs are amazing (though I've understood that Marko Utriainen is responsible for the most of them), but his vocals are not that great. Some of his shouts and screams are impressive, and also his growls verses with lower register work ok, but mostly his vocal output is delivered as grunts that are uttered in this strained, tough-guy fashion, that really don't work that well. Though as they are more like strained singing instead of full-on screaming, Rainer can control the pitch of his voice, enabling him to "sing" vocal melodies, but this grunted singing really doesn't work for me. I'd prefer either real singing, or out-and-out screaming, or both, not something in-between, at least in this fashion.
Well, Diablo might not be everyone's cup of tea, either due to Rainer's vocals, or if one considers them just a Meshuggah band with all the interesting stuff taken out or yet another band that plays those repetitive chugga-chuggah riffs, but I consider them one of the most interesting mainstream metal bands in Finland, and they are worth checking out both due to their terrific-yet-simple guitar melodies and great groove. They are not trying to re-invent the wheel; they are just good at what they do.
***
Reviewed albums:
Eternium (2004) - 80/100
The stuff they play is pretty easily recognizable - the instruments are tuned to low B (That's pretty deep. Not Meshuggah-deep, but deep nonetheless.) and most songs are based on heavily syncopized and offbeat guitar riffs on which Marko Utriainen harmonizes often jagged and angular melodies. Their influence especially from Meshuggah is clearly audible in some songs, and one could say that their music is mainly Meshuggah simplified, composed to fit a regular metal song structure and finally spiced with melodic influence from such Gothenburg metal bands, as Dark Tranquillity and early In Flames.
Also Heikki Malmberg's drumming is worth of a note - usually he does not follow the Tomas Haake tradition in which the kick drums follow the offbeat guitar riffs while the hands maintain a steady beat in crotchets, but instead holds a steady pulse with a regular drum figure, and occasionally throws in impressive fills, figures and solos. His playing style supports the style of Diablo's music, which is angular yet relatively simple, and he doesn't seem to have the need to show off - unless he is given a chance, in which his drum prowess is often presented.
The same goes with the guitar leads of Marko Utriainen. His guitar solos and leads are usually not that impressive if only technical aspects are regarded, but his sense of melody and harmony is superb, and frequently the solos bring out qualities from the songs that would've been absent without the solo. They offer surprising twists in melody, are often simple enough to be "singable", and are also many times cleverly harmonized with a second lead guitar, bringing about a very recognizable tone to his playing. As with Heikki - it also feels that he knows his instrument through and through, but he plays what fits their music without the real need to show off.
The only person I have really nothing special to say is their bassist, Aadolf Virtanen. His bass lines usually do nothing more than double the guitar riffs. Only when the guitars are quiet, his deep, rumbling bass can be heard, creating a thick, oppressive atmosphere to the songs. The only aspect he is somewhat remarkable though, is his stage presence in their concerts. I've seen Diablo once live, in 2006, and then the only one who was putting up a real show was Aadolf, not staying one moment in one place. Good for him!
Probably the only one I have less flattering things to say is Rainer Nygård, the man in charge of the vocals and rhythm guitars. I have nothing bad to say about his guitar work though, the riffs are amazing (though I've understood that Marko Utriainen is responsible for the most of them), but his vocals are not that great. Some of his shouts and screams are impressive, and also his growls verses with lower register work ok, but mostly his vocal output is delivered as grunts that are uttered in this strained, tough-guy fashion, that really don't work that well. Though as they are more like strained singing instead of full-on screaming, Rainer can control the pitch of his voice, enabling him to "sing" vocal melodies, but this grunted singing really doesn't work for me. I'd prefer either real singing, or out-and-out screaming, or both, not something in-between, at least in this fashion.
Well, Diablo might not be everyone's cup of tea, either due to Rainer's vocals, or if one considers them just a Meshuggah band with all the interesting stuff taken out or yet another band that plays those repetitive chugga-chuggah riffs, but I consider them one of the most interesting mainstream metal bands in Finland, and they are worth checking out both due to their terrific-yet-simple guitar melodies and great groove. They are not trying to re-invent the wheel; they are just good at what they do.
***
Reviewed albums:
Eternium (2004) - 80/100
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