Artist: Kalmah
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 4/30/02
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Title: They Will Return Artist: Kalmah Label: Century Media Release Date: 4/30/02 |
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Abyss's Review:
Kalmah are relative newcomers to these shores, a Finnish band performing their own take on melodic European death metal. Their Finnish ancestry becomes evident in the fact that, like most bands from that country, they seem to have taken the music associated with their more established neighbors (Sweden and Norway) and put their own spin on it. Like Sentenced and Amorphis before them, they began as a rather straightforward death metal band that incorporated more melodic elements after the Gothenburg explosion of the early to mid nineties. The Finnish metal that has made it to these shores has always stood apart, however, not by any glaring differences from other Northern European metal, but by its subtle eccentricities. I remember the first time I was privy to Sentenced's technical masterpiece North From Here, (an album that I still think to this day is erroneously overshadowed by the more popular follow-ups Amok and Down) and I was simply inspired by its off the wall take on a sound that I had started to take for granted. The music was intensely brutal, but it was also segmented and sporadic, and initially almost came across as awkward, as it took repeated listens to make me realize its genius.
"There are a plethora of melodic bands that this album could be compared to, but no comparisons actually seem to hold up all that well." Much is the same with Kalmah. While this band is much more melodic than the aforementioned work, it's taken a sound that I've taken for granted and tweaked it just enough to make it sound new. There are a plethora of melodic bands that this album could be compared to, but no comparisons actually seem to hold up all that well. This album reminds me of all of them and none of them at the same time. True, the songs center around melodic riffs and punishing rhythms that we've all heard before, but while the songs tap this vein they refrain from any typical sort of catchiness. In fact, their hook most likely will be lost upon the uninitiated listener. This is mainly as a result of some unfortunate distractions that prevent this from being considered a flawless album.
The keyboards that are prevalent throughout the album are strictly hit or miss. In most cases, they complement the guitar melodies, but in others, they compete, without a clear winner. The tone is usually mostly to blame (with little help from the mix), as they sound like they would fit better on a grand scale black metal album than something with the sleekness that this album attempts and is largely successful at. The vocals on this album are also inconsistent, with Pekka Kokko's (sounds like a knockoff of Ovaltine or a porn star, I'm not sure which) growlscreams, while quite satisfactory at times, sometimes seemed stifled into the meekest of squeaks.
"One word review: Excellent." These distractions don't take away from the quality of this album too much, however, they just stand out as things that could be improved upon. There are some brilliant works on display here, including the title track, "Principle Hero," and my early favorite, "My Nation." There is also a successful (but not essential) Megadeth cover in "Skin O' My Teeth." One word review: Excellent.
Death's Review:
This is the first I am hearing from Kalmah. But before I tell you what I think of them, I have to disagree with Abyss for a second: I fucking love the inclusion of the Megadeth cover, "Skin of My Teeth!" What a classic and non-obvious choice! And it sounds fantastic.
"I fucking love the inclusion of the Megadeth cover, 'Skin of My Teeth!'"
OK, that aside, I dig Kalmah. Post-Gothenberg, blackened, melodic death. Kalmah are very good musicians, are well produced, and definitely deliver highly musical yet pummeling songs that come off as In Flames meets Soilwork meets Primal Fear meets Children of Bodom meets Dimmu Borgir meets Cradle of Filth. Thrashy, fun, technical riffs abound, and the blackend blast/scream parts are derenched in keys but at least have a quality sound and often morph into more rock keys than the pure "haunted house" style. Like Children of Bodom, the guitar work is superior. Like new In Flames and Soilwork, this band is definitely searching for a hook. Like Cradle of Filth, the "blackened" material is slick and well produced.
"I don't know what Kalmah means, but this is a really good band no matter what they're called." This appears to be Kalmah's second effort, although the Finnish band's legacy dates back to 1992 and a band called Ancestor. I don't know what Kalmah means, but this is a really good band no matter what they're called and, like other Finnish bands like Sentenced, Amorphis and Children of Bodom, American metalheads need to get to know them.
Hel's Review:
Favorite track: "Kill the Idealist"Kalmah is a new band for me. Coming into this review, all I really knew about them was that the buzz was good. People who had heard this record already were saying positive things, and I must admit, that caused me to believe that this might really be a quality release. You know what? This really is a quality release.
They Will Return offers song after song of black-tinged melodic death. The songs are well written, though the lyrics reveal that English is not their first language. The vocals are a quality death/black growl, and eliminate the need for the lyrics to make perfect sense anyway. The guitars, most frequently, can be heard dueling melodiously. Frequently, there are sweeping black keys, without which, Kalmah would lost much of that blackened quality.
"You know what? This really is a quality release."
The songs keep your head banging, and the musicians play well, what more can you really want? While ultimately unable to completely knock me on my ass, Kalmah has provided me with several pleasant hours of metal listening - an achievement in its own right. Clearly, They Will Return is a record worth picking up, and Kalmah is a band worth checking out. I trust they will remain true to their word, and I look forward to what they have to show us when they return - 'cause they promised me they would!
"I look forward to what they have to show us when they return."
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