Kalmah

Dawn of Disease – Procession of Ghosts [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By GardensTale on December 16, 2019 in 2019, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Melodic Death Metal, 17 comments

“My first “real” metal band was Iron Maiden. The second was Children of Bodom, and through them, I found other melodic death metal bands like Norther and Kalmah. These last three bands were all listed on Metal Archives as “power metal with harsh vocals,” as a kind of elitist bid to disassociate melodic death metal that was too melodic from the “death” part of the label. While it was kind of a ridiculous strategy, it is true that there’s a major subsection of melodic death metal that has little in common with death metal aside from growls or screams.” Death’s revenge.

Crepuscle – Heavenly Skies Review

By Eldritch Elitist on October 18, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Creator-Destructor Records, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 20 comments

“With scant few acts from the golden era of Finnish melodic death metal living up to their former glitter and gusto, the torch has been unwittingly passed across state lines. From Æther Realm to Aephanemer, the kids who grew up worshiping at the altars of Ensiferum, Children of Bodom, and scores of others are now handily matching the quality of their influences. California’s Crepuscle is no exception.” The American way.

Stormlord – Far Review

By Kenstrosity on May 22, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Death Metal, Epic Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Symphonic Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 36 comments

“Every once a while we at AMG hack and slash each other for promos. In this case, I slice-and-diced one Very Messy Individual™ (Holdeneye) in the name of a symphonic death metal band by the name of Stormlord. You see, symphonic death and symphonic black metal seem to be on the upswing this year.” Storming with malice.

Aephanemer – Prokopton Review

By Dr. Wvrm on March 20, 2019 in 2019, French Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Primeval Records, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 189 comments

“The vaunted sophomore album. The dreaded sophomore album. It’s a metal rite of passage nowadays, fully reflective of our hyper-streamlined society, for the raw and promising to go from who-the-fucks to our favorite bands in an insanely compressed period of time. This tends to be especially true for AMG favorites—see Wilderun, Æther Realm, Khemmis, Cân Bardd, Altars of Grief, Hamferð, etc., etc. Since the opening bars of their 2016 debut Momento Mori, I prayed that someday Aephanemer would assume their rightful place in that most hallowed legion.” One giant step.

Dr. Wvrm’s Top Ten(ish) Records of 2018

By Dr. Wvrm on December 26, 2018 in 2018, Blog Posts, Lists, 128 comments

Christmas is over, but the lists are still lurking! Next up is Dr. Wvrm and his highly important opinions on what ten albums you should hear in 2018.

Shed the Skin – We of Scorn Review

By Roquentin on August 8, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 77 comments

“The music on the sophomore release by Cleveland’s death metal quintet Shed the Skin is deceptively simple. In its core, the band’s possessed, groove-laden death metal is propelled steadily forward at medium pace and with a certain brutality characteristic for Hells Headbangers’ roster. Around these straightforward and conventional structures, floating somewhere between thrash, old school, and modern death metal, the group cultivates an abundance of flair and an aura of tight frolic.” Frolic through the grave park.

Kalmah – Palo Review

By Dr. Wvrm on April 4, 2018 in 2018, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Spinefarm, Melodic Death Metal, 111 comments

“Kalmah could be a fine case study for some poor grad student’s research into band development. Finland’s favorite sons grew up overnight, discovering their unique and — dare I say — iconic sound as young whipper-snappers. They caught the thicket of mid-period lows underfoot and freed themselves through personal evolution, not brute strength. They retooled into an incredibly consistent act not wholly unalike their early days, but not overtly similar either. It’s been nearly five years since Kalmah last stomped the swamp, and Palo would be more a shock if it wasn’t the beautiful bog beast we all expected.” Muckrakers.

Serenity in Murder – The Eclipse [Things You Might Have Missed 2017]

By Eldritch Elitist on December 20, 2017 in 2017, Japanese Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Oyster Brothers Records, Things You MIght Have Missed 2017, Melodic Death Metal, 64 comments

“There’s a special little subcategory of my year-end list this year that I’m tentatively dubbing “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Finnish!” With much of that country’s melodeath old guard either disbanded, commercialized, or in an ongoing slump, it makes sense that other countries are picking up the slack. And one of the finest examples of the faux-Finn sound you’ll hear this year comes straight from Japan.” Japan to the rescue.

X.Kernel – Face the Truth Review

By Dr. Wvrm on July 7, 2017 in 2017, Cimmerian Shade Recordings, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Ukrainian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 42 comments

“How do you feel about keyboards? Do you like ’em gloomy and atmospheric? Synthy and cheesy? Perhaps the classic piano flavor does it for you. Whatever your tastes, X.Kernel have got you covered. Their debut Face the Truth follows eight long years of melodic rumination and, if the album art can be believed, enough Phoenix Wright to cause nightmares.” Keys to the kingdom.

70000 Tons of Metal: One Man’s Journey

By Mark Z. on March 12, 2017 in 2017, Blog Posts, Live Reviews, 39 comments

“My friends ask me what happened, but my ability to verbally communicate has been reduced to moaning and a weeping noise that sounds something like a baby panda crying for milk. I wonder how I’m going to make it through the final day of this floating festival. I wonder when the aching will subside. I wonder where my life went so wrong. How did I end up here, on the 7th annual 70000 Tons of Metal cruise, weak with exhaustion and feeling like my body has been bludgeoned with a sledgehammer? My mind drifts back…” Tales from a 70000 ton heavy thing.