Last year's
phenomenal showing by Finns, KALMAH had me praising them like a newly arrived
messiah. Realistically though, I didn't think they'd be able to follow
up with something as strong and only a few months after Swamplord
was released, we get They Will Return. My predictions
were somewhat confirmed - this follow up does not match the memorability
of its predecessor but that doesn't mean it isn't a hell of a release because,
dammit, it is!
They Will Return
illustrates what time playing together as a band does for you in a stylistic
manner. Things evolve, ideas get tweaked and individuality begins
to become more obvious. This seems more the case with this release
than on the band's first. While you won't mistake KALMAH for anyone
other than KALMAH while listening to They Will Return, one
gets the sense that the band have started to move into new territories.
Not that it should at all be a shock to the reader or listener to note
that this newest offering sounds like a cross between Swamplord
and the last two ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW albums because after all, you've
got membership here from both bands. That comparison manifests mainly
in the more intricate keyboard play, which provides this album with those
nice added hooks that are so ubiquitous with Finnish Metal.
There is not a great
divide between either of KALMAH's two releases. I found the riffing
on Swamplord to be slightly better while I find the keyboard
notes on They Will Return to be the more favorable.
In the end, guitars will always win out with me (though, the soloing on
this album is absolutely psychotic!). The fact remains though, that
a band this good just cannot flop after one great release. This one
is loaded with great material, from the melodically nihilistic opener to
the clever cover of MEGADETH's "Skin O' My Teeth". Where the
band have evolved to is into the realm of variation. There clearly
is a more methodical feel to They Will Return, from the vocal
transitions (from shrill to near-gutteral) to the structural surprises
on tracks like "Human's Fate" (damn, that keyboard solo is great!).
Its those elements that make this a fine release that may even win more
appeal this time around for some fans. One way or the other, They
Will Return is praiseworthy and strong testament to the creative
abilities of KALMAH. Good, awfully good.
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