New Release: I.F.A

I.F.A’s Tiimalasi: Heavy, Late, and Worth the Wait

Not many bands can say they’ve been simmering since 1985 and still sound urgent. But Finland’s I.F.A aren’t playing catch-up: they’re finally hitting stride.

Formed in Vihti during the tail end of the Cold War (yes, named after an East German car brand, Industrieverband Fahrzeugbau, if you’re into obscure trivia), they started as a punk-leaning act, took a 10-year pause, then quietly rebuilt. Their debut Ifandia dropped in 2021, 36 years after formation, and now, Tiimalasi arrives as their first album with the current trio: Aapo McMillan (vocals/bass), Tom Heskell (guitars), and drummer Herra Koivuniemi, who joined in 2023. It’s their first true band record, and it feels like one.

Recorded in local spots, Vikke ry’s training halls and Tom’s FMS studio in Karkkila, the album emerged from 12 demo tracks whittled down to 10. The theme? The end of the life cycle. Mortality. Time running out. Hence Tiimalasi “hourglass” as title and centerpiece. No gimmicks, just weight.

They worked with Kaasu Gas Lipstick on drum tones (a nice touch: those hits thud), and “Pedon kieli” came from a collab with author Janne Tulonen, who wrote a novel of the same name. That kind of cross-medium spark is rare in this scene. Respect.

Sonically? Heavy rock with punk bones. Not too polished, not too raw. Think early Graveyard meets Wo Fat, with Finnish melancholy in the vocals. The singles “Kalervo”, “Intiaani”, “Pedon kieli” all have that slow-burn groove, and the title track’s video is pure ritualistic vibe.

Out via Inverse Records (a solid home for Finnish heaviness), Tiimalasi is streaming everywhere. Grab it on Bandcamp if you want the CD or just support the cause.