The Black Waltz - my review

[gaz]

My promo copy arrived from Spinefarm today in the post.
I've played it once in the car, the stereo is factory fit and okayish sound.
Listening now on my some what decent component hi-fi.

Eleven songs, some 47 minutes running time, not a filler song to be found.
Production is very sweet, clear and crisp, like nearly all Spine releases.

The vocals did take me a while to get used to, but they fit in perfectly.
There are a couple of death screams, that apart, the vocals are very low, almost, but not quite, inaudible on a couple of songs.

Stand out song is the maginficent title track, a mid paced menacing, yet highly melodic slice of death done the Kalmah way.

I'll need to hear it again and again, before I can do a proper review.
There are plenty of hooks, musical and even vocals, throughout.

In short, this raises the bar once again for the rest to try and match.

PS: Please do not PM me asking for mp3's, the answer is NO

 

[rdm2]

Can you talk a little about the moods of the songs? I really enjoy Kalmah's fast melodic songs, which I've heard in the samples...however, I really enjoy their very atmospheric, slower paced dark sounding songs like Human Fates. Is there anything like this on the album at all?

 

[drkluscious]

You greedy bastard!

How does inside booklet cover look? Does it have lyrics? What does the back of the CD look like?

 

[Alteredmindeath]

What the fuck why don't you listen to it and then post the fucking review, this doesnt even make sense to post this bullshit.

 

[deathxunlimited]

You greedy bastard!

How does inside booklet cover look? Does it have lyrics? What does the back of the CD look like?

he said he got the promo copy. they are usually just a cardboard sleve with the cover and back art on them. no booklet.

 

[gaz]

What the fuck why don't you listen to it and then post the fucking review, this doesnt even make sense to post this bullshit.

Um maybe I was pretty excited to share my thoughts with this forum.
I thought some thoughts would be appreciated, but I guess, for the likes of you, its not good enough.

A proper review for the website I write, wouldn't be online for at least a week.
I wouldn't post the proper review here anyway, just a link to the site it would be on, so they gets the hits.

Yes the promo CD, is housed in a cardboard sleeve, no lyrics and the back has a b&w picture of the band. I don't think the retail copies are done yet.

 

[The Don]

Um maybe I was pretty excited to share my thoughts with this forum.
I thought some thoughts would be appreciated, but I guess, for the likes of you, its not good enough.

A proper review for the website I write, wouldn't be online for at least a week.
I wouldn't post the proper review here anyway, just a link to the site it would be on, so they gets the hits.

Yea but telling us that "There are plenty of hooks, musical and even vocals, throughout" and that the vocals are "low" isnt much of a "review". Im not trying to be an asshole, but maybe a one song analysis would have been nice. Well anyway maybe post something here later for the schmuks that dont have it?

 

[drkluscious]

Um maybe I was pretty excited to share my thoughts with this forum.
I thought some thoughts would be appreciated, but I guess, for the likes of you, its not good enough.

A proper review for the website I write, wouldn't be online for at least a week.
I wouldn't post the proper review here anyway, just a link to the site it would be on, so they gets the hits.

Yes the promo CD, is housed in a cardboard sleeve, no lyrics and the back has a b&w picture of the band. I don't think the retail copies are done yet.

A week? C'mon, by that time the album will be out and none of us would need to read a review, we could just listen to it ourselves.

 

[Charmiss]

I´ve had mine now more than week. Got it from my sweethearted Marcello.
And that's why I havn't been telling anything of it coz you guys alway need more and more stuff to hear or keep complaining "you should listen that and tell that or so on"
I love the TBW, it's definately THE best thing Kalmah ever done. Period.

And I too say NO! for the whiners who try to steal the music. Keep listening the samples or go buy your own copy from the shop when it's released.

 

[To the Grave]

Pre-ordered it

 

[The Bringer]

What the fuck why don't you listen to it and then post the fucking review, this doesnt even make sense to post this bullshit.

That's a fucking bullshit answer. Appreciate his review or just go away.

And kodos to Kalmah for not letting the album leak!

 

[suspect]

The vocals did take me a while to get used to, but they fit in perfectly. There are a couple of death screams, that apart, the vocals are very low, almost, but not quite, inaudible on a couple of songs.

I think you mean black metal screams. Low vocals are a trademark of death metal, while high shrieks are a trademark of black metal.

 

[I{ameman]

I think you mean black metal screams. Low vocals are a trademark of death metal, while high shrieks are a trademark of black metal.

i think he ment the volume of the vocals since he said that they're "almost, but not quite, inaudible"...

if things actually are as gaz wrote i'll really miss some things in the kalmahsound...
imo the screams, like they were on the three albums before and in the demo samples for tbw, were much better and changed - the growls on the other hand sound a bit boring... since they don't really appear in the samples they are... but nothing more...
just my opinion and from what i heard from the samples... the melodies are awesome but i don't like those growls... not with those nice kalmah melodies...
i hope the cd sounds a bit different... (and hopefully with a little less bass)

 

[Alteredmindeath]

That's a fucking bullshit answer. Appreciate his review or just go away.

And kodos to Kalmah for not letting the album leak!

What review? this thread is deceiving their is no review.. I could of told you the same shit by listening to the samples.

 

[The Bringer]

Hey, the dude could have said "Nah nah, I have the new CD and you don't. It rocks!" But he was nice enough to put a little of his own input.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

I agree with ameman the growls dont fit very well, and does make it a little boring but Since I have only heard the samples I dont really know.

 

[DemonXeno]

Glade to hear its not a disapointment

 

[Charmiss]

It's not. It's amazing. My personal "highpoints" of the album are Time Takes Us All's amazing beginning with Macellos keys and Kuismas INCREDIBLE drumming, Bitter Metallic Side's wicked whole musical atmosphere, Defeat's bassline and the intensity of it as a opening track and To The Gallows' galloping-like movement. From the beginning I have loved Bitter and Groan but nowadays my special favorites are Time Takes Us All and Mindrust.
And To The Gallows owns too.
Svieri Dorogas acustic theme leads beautifully to the Black Waltz.
Album is amazing. I have totally fallen for it. Bet you will too!

 

[The Bringer]

That's better!

Write a full review and add it to www.metal-archives.com

 

[Charmiss]

Thnx, but my english isn't that great.

Parempi ois urpoilla vain suomeksi