Kalmah is a melodic death metal band from Oulu, Finland that formed in 1999. In less than a year after its formation, Kalmah was signed by Spinefarm Records, a Finnish record label. “Kalmah” is Karelian and could be translated as “to the grave” or “to the death”. The band is often termed “Swamp Metal” after their album cover themes.
Kalmah began in 1991 when Pekka Kokko and Petri Sankala founded the band Ancestor. After Ancestor had recorded two demos, Antti Kokkojoined the band as lead guitarist. In 1998, after having recorded five demos and going through five different bassists whose names are unknown, Ancestor disbanded, and was refounded as Kalmah. The new band consisted of Pekka Kokko (vocals, guitar), Antti Kokko (lead guitar), Pasi Hiltula (keyboards), Altti Veteläinen (bass), and Petri Sankala (drums).
In november 2005, kalmah has produced new album entitled The Black Waltz.The new album which consisted of eleven new songs was recorded and mixed at Tico-Tico Studios, and mastered by Mika Jusilla at Finnvox.
Kalmah’s musical style is largely influenced by melodic death metal, thrash metal, and speed metal. Kalmah is often compared to other metal bands from Finland such as Children of Bodom and Norther, possessing a heavy yet powerfully melodic sound. Like Children of Bodom and Norther, Kalmah exhibits some power metal elements in their music along with prominent keyboard melodies.
Kalmah’s first three albums relied more on higher pitched, screamed vocals but on their latest album, they have opted for lower death growl style vocals, while retaining elements from their previous albums.
List of kalmah albums:
1) Swamplord( 2001)
2) They will return( 2002)
3) Swampsong(2003)
4) The black waltz( 2006)
5) Kalmah Fifth studio album(2008)
Current members
- Pekka Kokko – Vocals, Guitar (1999 – present)
- Antti Kokko – Lead guitar (1999 – present)
- Marco Sneck – Keyboards (2004 – present)
- Timo Lehtinen– Bass (2001 – present)
- Janne Kusmin – Drums (2001 – present)
Former members
- Anssi Seppänen – Guitar (1992 − 93)
- Altti Veteläinen – Bass (1999 – 2001)
- Petri Sankala– Drums (1999 – 2001)
- Pasi Hiltula – Keyboards (1999 – 2004)
- Antti-Matti Talala– Keyboards
Kalmah is great, one of my favourite band, hope their next album will be more to power and speed metal.
