Anthony Rausku, a musician from Helsinki, Finland, leans into the past with Life Is Perfect for Living, an album steeped in the DNA of ’80s and early ’90s metal. From the opening title track, which carries shades of early Metallica, Rausku establishes a well-worn but effective playbook: heavy, riff-driven nostalgia that doesn’t attempt to rewrite history so much as revel in it.  

If the opener works for you, the rest of the album should follow suit. “Evil Eyes” channels a loose ’70s swagger, while “Inside” swings for something grander—its rock-opera ambitions giving it a theatrical, almost cinematic scope. “Pancake” barrels forward at full-throttle speed metal, an adrenaline shot that keeps the momentum surging. The intensity remains locked in with “Getaway” and “Outstanding,” the latter dripping with vintage ’80s excess.  

Those neon-lit, big-hair vibes are all over “Outstanding” and “Mistake,” while “Cuckoos in the Paradise” dials things back just slightly, flirting with classic rock influences. The album’s closer, “Nightmare,” is a notable departure, folding in synths and electronic drums for a brief detour into something more atmospheric.  

Life Is Perfect for Living doesn’t attempt to break new ground, nor does it need to. Rausku wears his influences proudly, tapping into a golden era of metal with affection rather than irony. It’s not a reinvention, but if you have a soft spot for chugging riffs, soaring solos, and an unabashed love for the genre’s heyday, there’s plenty here to sink your teeth into.