Swamplord - Kalmah

Kalmah's first album established them as a force to be reckoned with, within the tightly-knit sub-genre of Finnish melodic death metal with power metal influence. Essentially, a genre dominated by the popular Children of Bodom with Kalmah and Norther lagging some distance behind, but appreciated more by metal snobs like me who prefer their consistency. Kalmah's sound may not be unique, but it's certainly impressive, and they have always possessed a fiercer edge than Bodom, bordering on black metal on occasion. This is even evidenced in their lyrical preoccupation with swamps as opposed to Bodom's lake fixation, and the vocals are delivered in a deep rasp. The ...  Read the complete review