Review Summary: All hail the mighty swamp lords.
After a five-year hiatus, Finnish swamp sovereigns Kalmah are back with a new self-titled chapter, this time in shades of clay and under a new label, Ranka Kustannus. While periods of hibernation can be seen as the new normal for the collective since
Seventh Swamphony, they add some extra suspense and anticipation to the fanbase and members of the honorable Swamp Aficionados Society, eager for another dose of Kalmah's trademark melodic death metal. A vibrant, somewhat distinctive formula that has been leaving a trail of indisputable value since the turn of the millennium, responsible for classics such as
They Will Return or
The Black Waltz that rank among the best of their kind. In addition to the swampy imagery, the occasional thrashy riffing is likely what sets them apart from the pack, lending a burst of adrenaline to a recipe that swings between melody and aggression, as is customary on melodic death metal shores. Consistency is yet another of Kalmah's attributes, stylistically and qualitatively, as they have never dropped mediocre material or strayed too far from the original path; even the divisive (and underrated)
For the Revolution and
Palo offer strong highlights that rival the very best music the collective has ever recorded.
Kalmah's lead single 'Haunted by Guilt', and the two that followed, corroborated that yet again the quintet would not venture into uncharted swamps despite what the artwork’s earthy tones might suggest, and frankly, I'd be surprised if it were otherwise. At this point in their 25-year career, it is only to be expected that the lads don't stray from their comfort zone. Nevertheless, it wasn't the music, which remained true to itself, that drew my attention, but the production, which presented shortcomings in terms of the recording and mastering, at least to my ears. While a muddy, more lo-fi sound can occasionally be an aesthetic preference, it appears to be unintentional in this case. Something I would later confirm when listening to the album’s promo, kindly supplied by Ranka Kustannus, comparing its sound quality with the three songs that were available on digital platforms at the time. I don't normally get too carried away by first impressions or production-related technicalities, but in this case, I must admit it conditioned my listening experience, no matter how much I wanted to avoid it or find a rational explanation. Musically, as mentioned, Kalmah is expectably coherent and consistent with the band's portfolio, resorting to the usual recipe that throws folksy melodies and savage riffing into the same pot, often complemented by blast beats and Pekka Kokko's intense vocals that add a raw, aggressive layer to the music. 'Haunted by Guilt' and the thrashy 'Taken Before Given' are the finest examples of this trademark formula, along with the catchy 'Home Sweet Hell', which features the album's most memorable chorus. While I wouldn't put these songs on the same level as the lads' best work, they are nonetheless a pleasant addition to the band's repertoire. The overwhelming verses of 'Serve the Untrue' and 'Red and Black', as well as the Metallica-esque harmony in the bridge of 'Drifting in a Dream', are also among
Kalmah's highlights, with the latter forming with 'No Words Sad Enough' the album's most slow-paced cluster and its greatest (tempo-wise) contrasts. It seems reasonable to say that, despite its technical sound glitches and never reaching creative stratospheres, this is a ride that offers enough points of interest to any fan of the band, if only because it may be, in the lads’ own words, their last run.
Swampsong or not, masterpiece or not, the important thing to retain here is that after 25 years and so many accomplished chapters, the undisputed swamp overlords are still having fun and sprouting quality music from their mossy, swampy coastlines. And I, as a devoted member of the mythical Swamp Aficionados Society, humbly ask the lads not to make this self-titled episode their last, for there is no one of noble lineage to take their throne.
All hail the mighty swamp lords.
