Review WALTARI “Nations’ Neurosis”

It’s not the easiest thing to predict what Watari will deliver when they announce a new album. Too many influences are what Kärtsy Hatakka and his bandmates embed in their songs, but one thing is for sure. What comes from Watari is exciting and vibrant music, made with creativity and passion.

The Finnish crossover band was founded in 1986 and has released with “Big Bang” and “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Death Metal Symphony in Deep C” two brilliant albums. To be honest, I lost track of Waltari after those releases and it was the 2020 record “Global Rock” that reconnected me with the vibrant crossover sound of the Finns.

Five years later Waltari return with a new album called “Nations’ Neurosis” and what you expect from the band is what the guys deliver. There is the iron pumping “Do You Accept”, the partly Faith No More-ish opener “Nature Rules” and the massive “Breakfest in Eiffel Tower”, a song with a starting riff that has the potential to shake the foundation of the Parisian landmark.

The electro influences are the inspiration for the grooving “Diversity”, also released as the lead single. The song has a strong 90s vibe before “Murder Plot” adds a Eurodance pop appeal. All these songs show that Waltari don’t care about conventions and aren’t limited by frames. Hatakka and the band follow their musical creativity and in the end everything fits together as typical Waltari songs.

Photo: Jarkko Tiitinen

“Kill for Sport” is another pole of this musical experience, as we are confronted with a pounding metal track with some thrash metal vibes, which passes the baton to the gently swinging “Flowin'”. “Stop Back” is the longest track on the album at seven minutes. It is a song that starts darker and I had to think of “Black Velvet” when I first heard the star of the song. “Stop Back” is another musical color the band added to this sonic kaleidoscope.

All these songs allow you to imagine the range of Waltari in 2025, and that there’s another Eurodance-ish track with “Higher” shouldn’t surprise anyone anymore.

“Nations’ Neurosis” is another great album from Waltari and the Finns underline their free-thinking spirit. Boundaries and frames don’t excite for Waltari and it’s this rebellious and non-conformist attitude that leads to brilliant songs entertaining from start to finish. This album is a pleasure to listen to and congratulations to Hatakka and the band for such a great release.