Those deeply entrenched in the Finnish Metal scene might recall a band named The Man-Eating Tree. Emerging in 2010 with their debut album Vine, a lot of intrigue followed the band because of those involved. Running it all down, the lineup included Vesa Ranta (known famously as the drummer of Sentenced), Janne Markus (who was a signature part of Poisonblack as their guitarist), Mikko Uusimaa (also guitarist for the Gothic Metal band Reflexion), Heidi Määttä (keyboardist for Embraze), and Tuomas Tuominen (known by many as the long-time vocalist of Fall of The Leafe).
As alluded to, for those up to snuff on Finnish Metal, this assembly was not one you could ignore. Sticking together, moving into 2011, the band released their second album, Harvest, before In the Absence of Light in 2015, featuring Antti Kumpulainen. Building a solid interest in their brand of dark, melodic, Gothic-tingling Metal, sadly, some time after 2015, the band went into a state of indefinite suspense. A hiatus that many had assumed would be permanent, seemingly out of nowhere, news came down in 2024 that The Man-Eating Tree would be active once more, but with significant changes in tow.
Still led by Co-founder Janne Markus on guitar, he reassembled the band with a lineup consisting of Bassist Mika “June” Junttila (formerly of Mors Subita), Drummer Aksu Hanttu (formerly of Entwine), Guitarist Sakari Paavola, and Vocalist Manne Ikonen (formerly of Ghost Brigade). Yet again, this is another pretty compelling lineup. With that in mind, it seems that there are some fresh new approaches to the music within The Man-Eating Tree, and while they possess the same Dark Metal feeling from the past, they sound entirely updated.
A revamping that actually complements the band’s past, the release of tracks like “To the Sinking,” “Seer,” and “Ruins of Insanity” only stirred up more curiosity as to what an entire album might sound like from a reborn The Man-Eating Tree. Those questions were answered when the band released their new album Night Verses on April 11, 2025, through Germany’s Noble Demon.
What The Man-Eating Tree’s third studio album, and first in ten long years, please understand there is something fresh and unique about what they are doing in their return. At nine songs lasting nearly fifty minutes, there is a cohesiveness in the sound that is impossible to overlook. Melancholy and haunting, there is also a level of aggression with these new songs. Complimented by the superbly emotional vocals of Ikonen, in truth, The Man-Eating Tree feels like a whole new band.
These songs take you on a dreary path into the corners of inner thoughts that plague the mind. You can feel the resilience against being wholly overtaken by eternal darkness. Finding comfort in the shadows, much of the album acts as a movement in overcoming the wave of obstacles that crash into each of us throughout life.
This is an explanation of the mood Night Verses envelopes you with. However, the album is the experience, with each song standing out with intricate distinction. For example, “Days under the Dark” is a loofy track that surrounds you with sadness, but on the other hand, “Seer” acts more as a cathartic release of rage in the face of adversity. This is while “All our Shadows” embraces you as a moment of comfort before “Ruins of Insanity” opens the mind’s flood gates with a saturated mix of melodic guitars and captivating vocals.
Overall, if you seek melodic and dark music with Doom and Gothic Metal elements, you will love The Man-Eating Tree’s triumphant return. It is what you would hope for and so much more. For that, Cryptic Rock gives Night Verses 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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