In the world of icy Nordic Black Metal, Finland stands tall as a clear-cut leader. In a region where there are more Metal bands per capita than any other country in the world, it is easy to get lost in the snow… if you get the drift. However, some artists like Vermilia are so intriguing that they are bound to fancy the interest of outsiders.
Vermilia, the solo project of Julia Mattila, is a one-woman band where she handles all the songwriting, instruments, and mixing of the music, she also creates each of her release’s artwork and music videos. A highly driven visionary artist, this lady has been around the Finnish Metal scene for some time a part of other projects, but something is inherently her own with Vermilia.
Mixing the bombastic elements of Black Metal with Folk Metal, the music is more akin to something created during the golden area of these genres than something more modern. A factor extremely appealing to those who appreciate the atmospheric, yet raw climate of classic Melodic Black Metal like Dissection or Dark Funeral, Vermilia successfully interjects personal touches of Pagan Metal into each of her songs. Something reminiscent of Tuomas Saukkonen’s various entities (Before the Dawn, Dawn of Solace, Wolfheart), where he often served as the primary creator, you cannot help but find curiosity in what Vermilia is doing.
Giving you that knowledge you are seeking, Vermilia is a completely independent artist who relies heavily on Bandcamp to get her music out there. Doing just that, her 2018 debut album Kätkyt became one of the best-selling metal albums on Bandcamp during the weekend of the pre-release announcement. Additionally, the first two CD presses were sold out almost immediately. Impressive, in March of 2019 her cover of the Finnish song “Täällä Pohjantähden Alla” became a 1# viral song in Finland on Spotify Charts.
All these factors prove there is a buzz around Vermilia, and since then she released the Keskeneräisiä tarinoita EP in 2020, several singles, leading up to her 2022 sophomore album Ruska. Now in 2024, she continues to progress with the release of her newest song “Vakat.” An epic seven-plus minute Pagan hymn, the song builds with forceful intense drums, ominous, dark melodies, and startling Black Metal bellows, only to give way to stunningly beautiful singing. Perhaps one of Vermilia’s most striking compositions to date, it is a prelude to her third album Karsikko, due out in early 2025.
In truth, it is shocking that a record label such as Spinefarm Records, Century Media Records, or Napalm Records has not swooped in and picked up Vermilia yet, perhaps her independence as an artist keeps the music so uncompromised. To this point, Vermilia has amassed millions of streams and it is only a matter of time before others around the globe catch onto her brilliance. Assuring such, Vermilia is currently on an autumn tour; already finishing up six shows in Spain, before several more come November in Finland, which includes a headlining show in Helsinki on November 22nd.
So, if you salivate over the opportunity to learn about an artist before everyone else, you must check out Vermilia and her pure brand of Metal.
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