The Black Waltz

Last updated

The Black Waltz
Kansi bw.gif
Studio album by
Released22 February 2006 [1]
RecordedNovember 2005
StudioTico-Tico studios (Kemi, Finland)
Genre Melodic death metal, thrash metal
Length47:24
Label Spinefarm
Producer Kalmah
Kalmah chronology
Swampsong
(2003)
The Black Waltz
(2006)
For the Revolution
(2008)

The Black Waltz [2] is the fourth full-length studio album by the Finnish melodic death metal band Kalmah and their first with keyboard player Marco Sneck. [3] This album has them gravitating more towards thrash metal, which has often been cited as the Kokko brothers' primary musical influence. The vocals have changed to lower death vocals, compared to their higher pitched growls in previous albums.

Contents

The instrumental "Svieri Doroga" is a combination of the name of their first demo Svieri Obraza and a track on that demo entitled "Vezi Doroga". The name of the title track and album comes from a song originally recorded ten years earlier when the band was still named "Ancestor".

The video for "The Groan of Wind" [4] shows the band members playing inside a cave, with alternating shots of a young boy and girl running from their possessed family members. They are later rescued by a disfigured old man, the Swamplord (Odin), whose picture is on the cover of the album.

The album ranked in the top three melodic death metal/Gothenburg albums in 2006. The album peaked at number 48 on the national Finnish album charts. [5]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Metal Storm Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Rock Hard Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Metal.de Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]

Track listing

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Defeat"A. Kokko, P. Kokko5:32
2."Bitter Metallic Side"A. Kokko4:27
3."Time Takes Us All"M. Sneck4:22
4."To the Gallows"P. Kokko4:40
5."Svieri Doroga"A. Kokko1:08
6."The Black Waltz"A. Kokko4:37
7."With Terminal Intensity"M. Sneck4:56
8."Man of the King"A. Kokko, P.Kokko, Lehtinen4:02
9."The Groan of Wind"A. Kokko, P. Kokko5:02
10."Mindrust"M. Sneck4:06
11."One from the Stands"A. Kokko, P. Kokko4:32
12."This Mortal Coil" (Carcass cover) (Japan bonus track) 3:36

Track 11 length is 4:35 on the Japanese edition. All lyrics are written by Pekka Kokko, except track 10 (P. Kokko and A. Kokko)

Credits

Band members

Production and other

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amorphis</span> Finnish heavy metal band

Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band founded by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other genres, including progressive metal, and folk metal. They frequently use the Kalevala, the epic poem of Finland, as a source for their lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catamenia (band)</span> Finnish black metal band

Catamenia is a Finnish black metal band founded in 1995 by Riku Hopeakoski and Mika Tönning in Oulu. They have been signed to Massacre Records since their first full-length release Halls of Frozen North in 1998. As of 2010, they have released nine albums, one EP, and one DVD. They are known for frequent usage of wolves in their album art, but the band is named after a kind of bird. Catamenia also means "menstruation", which the band did not know until a fan pointed it out to them after the release of their debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eternal Tears of Sorrow</span> Finnish metal band

Eternal Tears of Sorrow is a Finnish symphonic/melodic death metal band formed in Pudasjärvi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalmah</span> Finnish melodic death metal band

Kalmah is a Finnish melodic death metal band from Pudasjärvi that formed in 1998. In less than a year after its formation, Kalmah was signed by Spinefarm Records. The word "kalmah" is Karelian and could be translated as "to the grave" or "to the death".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ensiferum</span> Finnish folk metal band

Ensiferum is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "melodic folk metal."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wintersun</span> Finnish heavy metal band

Wintersun is a Finnish heavy metal band from Helsinki originally formed as the side project of Jari Mäenpää, then-vocalist and guitarist of folk metal band Ensiferum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mors Principium Est</span> Finnish melodic death metal band

Mors Principium Est is a Finnish melodic death metal band formed in 1999.

Darkwoods My Betrothed are a Finnish black metal band from Kitee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poisonblack</span> Finnish metal band

Poisonblack is a Finnish gothic metal band led by singer and guitarist Ville Laihiala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battlelore</span> Finnish heavy metal band

Battlelore are a Finnish heavy metal band from Lappeenranta, founded in 1999 by guitarist Jyri Vahvanen and bassist Miika Kokkola. The name derives from the union of the words 'battle' and 'folklore'. Many of Battlelore's lyrics concern J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth sagas and their stage costumes and live shows are largely inspired by the themes and characters of fantasy literature. The band had many changes of personnel during their twelve years of activity and had a long hiatus after the completion of the tour supporting their latest release Doombound in 2011. In January 2016 they announced that they would be performing at Metal Female Voices Fest XIII in October 2016.

Altaria is a Finnish heavy metal band from Jakobstad, who have released four albums on the record label Metal Heaven, a fifth on Escape Music and a sixth on Reaper Entertainment.

<i>They Will Return</i> 2002 studio album by Kalmah

They Will Return is the second studio album by the Finnish melodic death metal band Kalmah. It was released by Spinefarm Records on 30 April 2002. This is the first studio album to feature bassist Timo Lehtinen and drummer Janne Kusmin.

<i>Swampsong</i> 2003 studio album by Kalmah

Swampsong is the third studio album by the Finnish melodic death metal band Kalmah. This is the last album with Pasi Hiltula on keyboards.

<i>Swamplord</i> 2000 studio album by Kalmah

Swamplord is the debut studio album by the Finnish melodic death metal band Kalmah.

<i>Chaotic Beauty</i> 2000 studio album by Eternal Tears of Sorrow

Chaotic Beauty is the third album by Finnish symphonic death metal band Eternal Tears of Sorrow. It was their first album without the original three founding members of the band and the first EToS album with a five-member line-up.

The Duskfall is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Luleå, formed in 1999. The band released four full-length studio albums and, shortly afterwards, split in 2008; however, they reformed in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amberian Dawn</span> Finnish metal band

Amberian Dawn is a Finnish symphonic power metal band, formed in 2006 by Tuomas Seppälä and Tommi Kuri. As of 2023, Amberian Dawn had released nine studio albums, four singles and twelve music videos.

<i>12 Gauge</i> (Kalmah album) 2010 studio album by Kalmah

12 Gauge is the sixth studio album by the Finnish melodic death metal band Kalmah, released on 3 March 2010. The album was recorded with more thrash metal elements than their previous releases, while the melodies that the band is known for and environmental themes regarding the swamps of Finland were retained. 12 Gauge was recorded in three sessions over a three-month period at Tico-Tico Studios in Finland.

Ekho is an Israeli death/power metal band from Ganey Tikva. Formed in 2008, the Group consists of Bar Sanitovsky, Yarden Mor-Avi (guitar), Boris Skolyar (bass), Tomshi Shein (keyboards) and Erez Nadler (drums). The band is considered to be extreme heavy metal. Since the band's formation, they have released one studio album, and two demos.

<i>Seventh Swamphony</i> 2013 studio album by Kalmah

Seventh Swamphony is the seventh studio album by the Finnish melodic death metal band Kalmah, released on 17 June 2013. This is their first album with new keyboardist Veli-Matti Kananen. The album was recorded at Tico-Tico Studios in Kemi, Finland, and was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren.

References

  1. KALMAH: New Album Samples Posted Online, blabbermouth.net, retrieved 27 December 2017
  2. Kalmah.com Discography Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "KALMAH Announce New Keyboardist". Blabbermouth . 17 May 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  4. Metal From Finland - The Groan of Wind
  5. MusicMight Kalmah Detailed Biography
  6. "Kalmah - The Black Waltz review". Metal Storm . 1 March 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  7. Albrecht, Frank. "KALMAH - The Black Waltz". Rock Hard . Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  8. "Kalmah - The Black Waltz Review". Metal.de . 11 April 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2022.