In the distance the sky begins to change colour; heaped-up clouds, shifting from dark grey to black, gather in the heavens. The warmth of the day suddenly seems to fall still, birds fall silent and the leaves on the trees hang completely motionless… It is as if nature is holding its breath. On the horizon lightning flashes, followed by a dull rumble that slowly but surely draws ever closer. A thunderstorm is approaching: inescapable, and with every second the tension in the air grows. As though the world is bracing itself for a moment of release.
With the ever-nearing, rolling rumble of a thunderstorm, Kauan open their new album Wayhome. Is the storm at the beginning of aim / decide a harbinger of rain in your face and heavy drops falling until you are completely soaked? Or is it a symbol of life’s headwinds, when unexpected obstacles cross your path and you are forced to confront the silence of your own doubts and inner fears? Does it evoke tension but also relief, with the clearing sky and the returned stillness after the storm feeling like a new beginning, in which fresh opportunities present themselves?
Does Wayhome perhaps also feel more like a musical homecoming for the five-piece from Helsinki? On this new album, Kauan indeed returns a bit to the sound we know from albums such as Aava Tuulen Maa (2009), Pirut (2013), or the masterful Sorni Nai (2015). Whereas on their most recent album, Ice Fleet from 2021, the (black) metal elements were less prominent, Wayhome once again contains more robust, powerful passages in which deep, dark tones emerge. That said, it should immediately be added that the album also leans more towards ambient and post-rock.
On Wayhome, Kauan takes you on an inner journey through a vast landscape of post-rock, doom metal, ambient, and folk. Everything is worked out down to the finest detail. From the thunderstorm at the beginning to the prominently present violin in hate / ascend and the subtly spoken words far in the background of embrace / repel… Every note, every detail is consciously placed and serves its purpose. There is no trace of waste, no room for distracting elements; everything breathes precision and intent.
By introducing repeating melodies with subtle embellishments, a spacious, often dreamlike atmosphere is created, allowing the band’s softer, more introspective side to speak. The compositions are long, richly layered, and meticulously constructed, breathing a dreamy, melancholic mood that invites reflection and gently carries you along to a world where emotions, thoughts and imagination prevail. Guitars, drums, keyboards, piano and strings create rich, atmospheric textures, while the vocals – which, as was also the case on Ice Fleet, are not overly prominent on the album – often add even more emotional depth. Dark, heavy passages merge with tender, ethereal melodies and atmospheric, gentle sounds, culminating in enchanting, immersive soundscapes.
Wayhome is intended as one long composition of fifty minutes. Purely for the listener’s convenience, it was divided into eight tracks. The tracks, however, flow seamlessly into one another. Without clear boundaries, they feel like a single, immersive experience in which time and space fade away and each moment naturally grows out of the previous one. It is a concept album about the journey of life, both in a literal and a mental sense. Both words—‘way’ and ‘home’—can and may be interpreted in different ways: you can return home after a long absence, or you can undertake an inner journey to rediscover yourself, overcome an obstacle, or find new perspectives. Everything is left to the listener’s interpretation.
For the audiophiles among us: in addition to all common formats such as CDs, LPs, and streaming, Wayhome will be available on Apple Music in Dolby Atmos, a spatial audio format for optimal listening that creates a three-dimensional experience. And yes, it is so, so worth the eight euros being asked for it.
Pure beauty is difficult to capture in words. You can try to find the right phrasing, but words often fall short. Beauty is something you have to feel, experience deep within, something that cannot easily be expressed. Wayhome by Kauan is an experience that embraces tender beauty. It invites you to pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and carries you to a place of silence and wonder. Wayhome is so much more than music; it is a feeling that resonates deeply and intimately. Pure silence sometimes says more than words. Therefore… shhh… let the silence speak!
Score:
90/100
Label:
Artoffacts Records, 2025
Tracklisting:
- aim / decide
- outline / pave
- depart / dive
- leave / let go
- soothe / sear
- haste / ascend
- embrace / repel
- arrive / resolve
Line-up:
- Anton Belov – Vocals , guitar, keyboards
- Alina Belova – Keyboards, backing vocals
- Helena Dumell – Altviolin
- Niko Salminen – Bass guitar
- Kristian Merilahti – Drums
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