Poets of the Fall - Carnival of Rust - 20.04.2007

In 2002 (mistake one, 2003) a new musical era began and POETS OF THE FALL were born. When rocksinger Marko, Industrial-Trance-Keyboarder Captain and Jazzguitarist Ollie decided to form a band, three different worlds came together and created a completely new dimension of melodic rock. Always fitting guitar parts get combined with harmonic keyboard melodies and Marko's unmistakable voice, that's the overall concept of "Poets of the Fall".

In their home country Finland the band already reached Pltinum status with their debut album "Signs of Life" which stayed in the Finnish albumcharts for more than a year. This year, "Carnival of Rust" also went Platinum (wrong, that was December 2006, second mistake). In Germany, the band is not unkown anymore because of the video game "Max Payne 2" and its main theme "Late Goodbye" which made them gain a larger fanbase. During their support-tour with "Sunrise Avenue" in Spring 2007 they were able to appeal to a new audience. April 20th 2007 is their "German debut date".

Being asked the question how they'd define their kind of music, Marko answered:"We aren't defined. It's better to be for marketing purposes, but it limits you as an artist. Poets of the fall are simply Poets of the Fall."

And that is exactly what the album sounds like. It contains rocking uptempo songs, ballads like the title song "Carnival of Rust" and some songs have a kind of "jamming-factor". Every song surprises - in a positive way.

"Fire" is a heavy, rocking introduction, just like "Sorry Go Round" which has already been released as a single in Finland and whose guitar riffs and chorus will get into your ears immediately. "Locking Up The Sun" which has been released as the second single (wrong, third one) in Finland joins the songs before. It's got an electronic touch and is catchy, but they're playing around a little too much with Marko's singing. "Gravity" and "Delicious" have got the "jamming factor" I mentioned earlier. Thiis is to be seen in a positive way because in my opinion jam sessions lead to a band's most honest songs.

"Roses" seems to be the catchiest song of the album. A fast-paced love song that you cannot only hum along imediately, but gets a very personal meaning due to its positive guitar base sound. Next to the title track "Carnival of Rust" (whose outstanding video has been voted to be the best Finnish one ever and can be watched on POTF's official website) the 2-in-1 ballad "All the way /4u". The quiet, acoustic intro demands your whole attention which makes the climax at the middle of the song even more surprising. Piano and e-guitar kick in and Marko's singing rarely sounded more emotional. After the guys again really grab the strings in "Maybe Tomorrow Is A Better Day" the song "Dawn" creates the calm outro of the record which the listener is longing for.

Although their debut album "Sings of Life" was not released in Germany, "Carnival of Rust" is a good introduction to the world of "Poets of the Fall".
The chosen songs (their adjustment is bang on so the skipping-button of your CD-player can take a week off to go on holiday), There's not one song that points out as being relatively bad, but the ultimate uber-song is not there, either. The Poets speak for themselves because every song describes its own little universe and should be listened to that way. Comparisons unpreferred.

I'm lost into the good-sounding new "Poets of the Fall"-album and suddenly the phone rings. So I turn down the volume of my sound system (It could be an important call, you know) and start looking for the phone. Stupidly I mess up the order which makes the guy at the other end of the line greet me with the words 'Since when are you listening to Nickelback ?" and all of a sudden I don't think that "Poets of the Fall" are that great anymore.

When you are reviewing a band from a foreign country, you often hear the label say things like:"They are already superstars in their home country." "Poets of the Fall" are one of the very few bands for which this statement is true. Their debut album "Signs of Life" became the most successful Finnish one ever. They even won an "MTV European Music Award" in the category "Best Finnish Band" which means they were able to beat bands like "HIM" or "The Rasmus" who have great international success. And yes, you have to fear the worst when you hear that the trio from Helsinki connects three different worlds of music, simply because Mark is a rock-singer, Ollie a Jazz-guitarist and keyboarder and producer Captain an Industrial-trance-man. Did I succeed in scarng off every reader ?

Alright, let's review this record factual. Poets of the Fall's music is not even that bad. The twelve 4-minute-songs on their second album "Carnival of Rust" are rocking brisky. Sometomes Metal-vibes are coming through ("Sorry Go Round"), sometoimes they sing emotive ballads ("All the way / 4u). Mark's voice is able to sound like more than simply "Nickelback" and sometimes reaches hights you would not expect ("Dawn").

Of course, this album is not the most innovative one ever produced, but does it have to be so it can have a raison d'être ? "Poet of the Fall"'s album "Carnival of Rust" recieves the "Like-Nickelback-but-in-cntrast-to-them-it-sounds-good"-sticker. A nice record, although it is not deep enough to make you ignore a ringing phone.

4 out of 7 points.

Suddenly I don't like the person who wrote that.

. I don't know who originally messed up that piece of information, but although Signs of Life was very successful in Finland, it's nowhere near the "most successful Finnish album ever".

Oh I believed that, as well. I thought it was the most sucessful album in Finland until COR was released.

Poets of the Fall

Connecting People

[by Matthias Jost]


When you think of Finnish rock music you're likely to think of a parade of dark figures. You'll either think of Lordi's slapstick comedy-rumpus or of the little girls' favourite pin-up Goth Ville Valo (H.I.M) or you'll think of death metallers like "Impaled Narazene". We were introduced to easy accessable Nokia-Nation rock music by "Sunrise Avenue" who were touring through Germany with "Poets of the Fall" recently. Their lead-singer Marko is having breakfast at 15 o'clock inside the tourbus that's parked somewhere in central Finland. "Yea, our music isn't as hard as Finnish music is used to. It was once called "stadium rock". Most bands wouldn't like to hear that, but I don't mind performing at stadiums so let's go. " In their home country they're already doing this. After receiving noble metal for their debut and the second record "Carnival of Rust" it is now time to look at the rest of the world. "Since we're having our own label we must take things step by step. But you have to set your sights high or you'll just be sitting in your bungalow, letting your toes drangle in the water." Poets' want to evoke harmony with their lyrics. "I also write about serious topics like politics or religion, but not in that obious manner. And I love and respect Marylin Manson, but to me, music is about telling people something positive instead of provoking them." The stadiums of the world are already waiting.

About the band: Poets of the Fall is an independant rockband from Helsinki,Finland. It was founded in 2003 by rock-singer Mark and Jazz-guitarist Olli.Shortly after, keyboarder and producer Captain joined them. With this mixture they rocked the Finnish charts with their debut "Signs of Life". The band has won several awards including an MTV EMA-award (Best Finnish band) in 2006. The song "Late Goodbye" gained them a huge fanbase since it was used in the game "Max Payne 2" in 2003.

About the music: The band convinces with their lead singer's voice and deep lyrics which mostly deal with bittersweet love. The song "Carnival of Rust" which is also the title track of the second album, has got a melancholic touch. All in all they create good moods (Fire). True metallers would label their sound as "commercial" since it's too melodic. All in all I'd say: a solid breakthrough for the Finnish rockers.

3,5 / 5 points

Alessandra

The "he" is actually a "she" , but let's not mind. :roll:

True metallers would label their sound as "commercial" since it's too melodic.

I started updating POTF's English Wikipedia-article which said that "Signs of Life" has also been released in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Australia, Norway, Ukraine and even South Africa. That's incorrect information, isn't it ?

I started updating POTF's English Wikipedia-article which said that "Signs of Life" has also been released in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Australia, Norway, Ukraine and even South Africa. That's incorrect information, isn't it ?