KEEP OF KALESSIN - Kolossus

\r\n   Keep Of Kalessin exist for 15 years now and even though they were known in the underground, they managed to breakthrough with their previous release, 2006’s "Armada". Although the band was still playing black metal there was unmistakably a conscious divergence to a more open minded approach and an experimental disposal beyond the limits of the black metal scene.
\r\n   With their new effort "Kolossus" the band is trying to continue from where it left off with the most diverse record has ever released. Except the  traditional black metal, there are elements here from thrash metal, black and roll reminding somehow of Bewitched, death metal and many progressive  influences. Harsch black metal alternates continuously between atmospheric and symphonic parts with the use of keys, groovy death thrash rhythms and progressive sounds while there are also acoustic guitars that give an oriental color to the diversified artifact of their music. Even though the band had an intense melodic tinge already from their early material in this album the melody appears to score higher than the brutal riffing. Of course it doesn’t lack any of the fast blastbeats or the double bass part, yet many times the  tones are getting down some notches with melodies ala Primordial and touching upon  fields that  would make a traditional black metaller to grimace with repugnance.  
\r\n   One of  the very good points of the album is once more time Obsidian’s guitar work which is exceptional with his epic and melodic riffage, although not as grim as it used to be, sometimes walking into the brutal paths and others wandering into a more technical output with lots of beautiful leads and plenty of solos. And of course the same goes also for Vyl’s great performance in the drums section with the continuous double bass, the occasionally frenzy outbreaks and the warlike atmosphere.
\r\n   What has changed somehow in this album are Thebon’s vocals that possess a larger diversity changing from wild and heavy to death metal roars and high-pitched black metal shrieks or even singing almost the lyrics while at some points he strongly reminded me of Nemtheanga.  
\r\n   The production from the other hand is overpolished and flawless far from the era of the first albums with even the basslines to be distinguished. Generally "Kolossus" has a lot of resemblance with their previous release but in my opinion it does not manage to overpass it. Many tracks are completely indifferent and even if the album sounds more technically performed nevertheless it seems to lose many rates because of the lack of some larger dose of savagery. Surely this is not a bad release yet from the other it isn’t also something that will blow your brains out.\r\n

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\r\nVaso Prassa \r\n

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\r\nKeep of Kalessin - Ascendant\r\n

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