Opening with gentle acoustic picking and orchestral elements, Kalmah get top marks for an ambitious opening. As the inevitable riffs come piling in, and the drums set the track alight you can feel the quality. Perfectly rendered solos (thanks to a crisp production job) and growled vocals all hit home with maximum force before the track accelerates to maximum speed and sends the listener into a frenzy of head-banging. And that’s just the first track…
For their sixth LP, Kalmah have clearly upped the ante. Signed to Finland’s seemingly unstoppable Spinefarm records, they have produced an album that deserves to see them catapaulted into the stratosphere as they combine glorious riffs with crystal clear solos and a sense of drama that the Finns seem to be able to capture at will. ‘One of fail’ is more traditional symphonic fare, with bright keyboards washing over the opening in a manner that will be familiar to anyone with a love for Children of Bodom and indeed the track shares more than just the keyboard elements. This is a high speed metallic stomp through similar pastures and Kalmah clearly have the skill and attitude to pull it off without sounding derivative even evoking the spirit of Slayer on the bridge. ‘Bullets are blind’ opens with a crystal clear guitar lead courtesy of Antti Kokko, before lurching into death-infused thrash metal. With the keyboards adding extra weight and texture, it’s a brutally appealing package that leads nicely into the more melodic ‘Swampwar’.
‘Better not to tell’ reveals a love of Iron maiden as the band harmonise their solos for the intro before moving into a mid-tempo metallic rocker with guttural vocals and a deceptively melodic chorus. ‘Hook the monster’ is, itself, a monster of a track, rampaging off at full throttle in what will most certainly set the mosh pit on fire in the live environment. ‘Godeye’ continues the vein of full throttle rock but adds in Vangelis invoking synth elements which imbue the track with an epic feel. The title track is up next with its beautiful acoustic opening which once more recalls the spirit of Maiden before all hell is let loose. Final track ‘Sacramentum’ sees the album out on a high note, with tight riffs, full-on growls and sombre choirs sampled for the backdrop.
In ‘12 Guage’ Kalmah have created a melodic metal showcase which recalls, but never rips off their influences. With a crystal clear mix and filled with blistering solos, melodic chorus’ and overseen by Dekka Kokko, whose demonic roar underpins the whole thing, ’12 Guage’ is a highly recommended release from a band who, if there’s any justice, will go on to achieve great success.
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