JYRKI 69 (The 69 Eyes) – Helsinki Vampire (2017)
“Helsinki Vampire” is the solo debut album from JYRKI 69, lead vocalist for Finland’s darkest and deadliest goth metal band The 69 Eyes The disc builds on the distinctive “goth ‘n’ roll” sound that The 69 Eyes honed over the course of a dozen albums (millions of units sold collectively worldwide) while adding a more richly textured, darkly romantic atmosphere.
Yeah, sure, Goth is not a musical sub-genre belonging to this blog, but this album is worth to check. I like some The 69 Eyes material, and since the entire album has been produced, mixed, and mastered by the band’s longtime producer Johnny Lee Michaels, fans will find this album to be closer to the band’s classic sound.
In short, goth rock mixed with hard rock guitars and an overall dark sound.
However, Jyrki’s 69 debut adds it own spin. His vocals are an acquired taste, some kind of a baritone croon with sinister tone. Alongside the heavy guitars you have synth arrangements akin the last Depeche Mode, and together the dark atmospheres, pianos, bells, etc the album results quite interesting, different, captivating.
Several of the tracks from “Helsinki Vampire” have already been picked up for use in upcoming movies, including the horror film Sunset Society (starring Lemmy from Motorhead as a Sunset Strip vampire), suspense film Close Your Eyes, and Halloween Hell House (starring 21 Jump Street’s Richard Grieco).
Yeah, Jyrki’s 69 are special for horror films, from the lyrics to the musical cadence.
“Helsinki Vampire” launches with “Ad Infinitum,” an eight-minute introduction that presents beautifully haunting electronics and minimal vocals forevermore. The impressive piano and keyboard work continue in “Versailles,” a downtempo, melancholic tromp through the garden, as well as on the gentle embrace of “Spanish Steps.”
A sensual tale of one little girl with “Bloodlust” deep in her eyes, prowling the streets at night is already slated to appear in the upcoming horror flick Sunset Society mentioned above.
Watch Motorhead’s Lemmy play a Sunset Strip vampire;
Spooky Horror romp “Last Halloween” has also been selected for use in the soundtrack of Halloween Hell House and it’s one of my favorites from the album, bringing to mind ’80s slasher movie soundtracks. That keyboards pattern…
A languorous tale of one morbid and darkly ironic birthday celebration – while burying your mother with tears of love and loss – “Happy Birthday” is anything but; the irony here being palpable.
With the pace amping upward, “Call Of The Night” begs for all children of the night to hear Jyrki’s musical call. Superb bass breakdowns, sweeping guitars, and those seductive vocals mark this as a highlight of these vampiric offerings.
In fact, Jyrki channels his own inner Dracula on the spoken word offering, “Perfection.”
The intoxicating dark guitars of “Close Your Eyes” (reminds me of Sixx:AM) rolls into the ringing church bells of “In Your Dreams,” a mid-tempo rocker that raises the bar and marks the beginning of the end.
“Sayonara” is styled as a live concert send-off and included as a bonus track on the CD only.
“Hello, goodbye / Every day we die,” Jyrki sings in this official send-off. Do you think he knows that everyday is Halloween? Probably, as the entirety of “Helsinki Vampire” is languorous, sensual, macabre, and horrific in the most theatrical of senses.
Like a live-action Horror film that seduces, enthralls, captivates, and then repeats the vicious cycle, “Helsinki Vampire” is an album for all who dare to try something different. In fact, if you’re an ’80s culture freak (movies & soundtracks) you’ll love Jyrki 69’s solo debut.
Musically, expect a bizarre mix of Alice Cooper, Depeche Mode and Sixx:AM, some heavy synths, some heavy riffs, brooding vocals, etc.
I liked it.
01. Ad Infinitum
02. Versailles
03. Spanish Steps
04. Bloodlust (from “Sunset Society”)
05. Last Halloween (from “Halloween Hell House”)
06. Happy Birthday
07. Call Of The Night
08. Perfection
09. Close Your Eyes (from “Close Your Eyes”)
10. In Your Dreams
11. Sayonara (CD only)
BUY IT !
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