They Will Return

Like a few albums before it, They Will Return has a place in my heart as one of the ones that have changed my life. First off, I’d like to say that Kalmah really does not sound like Children of Bodom besides being a part of the Finnish wave of melodeath along with them, and is in fact superior in every way. Kalmah’s “They Will Return” blends melody, aggression, and technicality flawlessly. Every song has incredibly catchy guitar melodies harmonized with some very tasteful keyboard, fast and aggressive drumming, and great raspy vocals. Most songs also feature some great thrash/speed metal guitar solos, with the cover that closes the album nodding to Megadeth as an influence. The overall sound is a perfect amalgam of thrash/speed metal and the Finnish wave of melodic death metal that Kalmah is often considered a part of, along with bands like Bodom and Norther. The only reason this gets a 99 and not an 100 is because of the less-than-perfect lyrics, and when I say less-than-perfect, I do not mean bad, they just don’t match up to the epic beauty of the instrumentals. SInce I have heard this album, I have, in fact, been obsessively looking for bands that sound like Kalmah. And I have found none that are nearly as good.

Every track on this album is amazing, and there really are absolutely no weak points. Hollowheart fades in from a sample of footsteps in a swamp (for some reason the band is obsessed with them) to a typical great Kalmah lead part. The highlight of the second track, Swamphell, is a part where everything stops, leaving the bass, and then the lead guitar explodes in with a great thrashy lead. Principle Hero is easily one of the best tracks on the album, with great blast beats, and both a keyboard and guitar solo (in fact, many songs on this album have keyboard solos). The best part of the song is a calm part when epic synth strings come in, and chuggy guitar enters from the background. Kalmah calms things down a bit with the semi-ballad Human Fates, and Pekka Kokko introduces some deeper vocals in the chorus that complement his typical snarl (these vocals would become more common with later releases). The title track is a short and very sweet piece of melodic thrash with an absolutely addictive chorus. Kill The Idealist, the song that got me into Kalmah, has some very classic melodeath style switching between clean and distorted guitar, which is of course executed masterfully. The Blind Leader starts with a very Slayer-esque riff and drum beat, before getting more shreddy and melodic. My Nation would be a very proper end to the album, a very soothing semi-ballad with some great piano/keyboard, whispery vocals, and a heavier chorus. But to close off the album, Kalmah instead chose to take a classic Megadeth song and do what is, at this point, the only good cover of Megadeth I have ever heard. Faster than the original with raspy snarls that actually fit the song, Kalmah makes Skin o’ My Teeth their own. Lead guitarist Antti Kokko manages to nail the solo, and the band doesn’t have to cheat and use keyboard and/or cut it short, as some contemporaries did (ex. Norther – Tornado of Souls).

Overall, this album is absolutely amazing and the only reason it gets a less than perfect score is because I’m a guy that likes beautful, poetic lyrics, and theirs aren't really that special. Regardless, Kalmah is a great band that it pains me not to give an 100%, and I suggest that you forget about Children of Boredom and go buy this, now.