𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗮𝗵 — 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 (2013)

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟  𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

10 years ago this month, the “Swamplords” (one of my favorite MDM bands) of Melodic Death returned with their “Seventh Swamphony”!

On June 17 in 2013, Kalmah released their seventh full-length studio album “Seventh Swamphony” via Spinefarm Records.

This was their first album with keyboardist Veli-Matti Kananen. The album was recorded at Tico-Tico Studios in Kemi, Finland, and was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren.

Background:

In 2012, Kalmah finished filming a new music video for their (then) upcoming album, which was set to be released in 2013.

(𝙿𝚎𝚔𝚔𝚊 𝙺𝚘𝚔𝚔𝚘, 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟹 𝚒𝚗 𝚆ü𝚛𝚣𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚐’ 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢. 𝙿𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚢 𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚕)

The band kept fans up to date with their process via social networking website Facebook by uploading different photos, as well as a short behind the scenes video from the day of filming their video.

(𝙰𝚗𝚝𝚝𝚒 𝙺𝚘𝚔𝚔𝚘, 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟹)

They also announced that they (at the time) had 6 songs finished, and they planned to enter the studio in January 2013.

(𝙿𝚎𝚔𝚔𝚊 𝙺𝚘𝚔𝚔𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙰𝚗𝚝𝚝𝚒 𝙺𝚘𝚔𝚔𝚘, 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟹)

The artwork for their seventh studio album was created by artist Juha Vuorma, the man behind the art of Kalmah's first 3 albums.

(𝙹𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚎 𝙺𝚞𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚗, 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟹)

In April 2013, it was announced that the band would release “Seventh Swamphony”, on June 17, 2013.

(𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚘 𝙻𝚎𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚗, 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟹 𝚒𝚗 𝚆ü𝚛𝚣𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚐, 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢. 𝙿𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚢 𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚕)

The band's musical style can primarily described as Melodic Death Metal with strong influences of Power Metal, Thrash Metal and Black Metal. Musically, the band has been compared to fellow Finnish Metal acts Children Of Bodom, Norther and Wintersun.

(𝚅𝚎𝚕𝚒-𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚒 𝙺𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚗, 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟹 𝚒𝚗 𝚆ü𝚛𝚣𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚐, 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢. 𝙿𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚢 𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚕)

Seventh Swamphony Tour:

Kalmah toured Finland and Europe, while also playing many festivals in support of “Seventh Swamphony.

In early 2013 the were special guests on the German run of the Pagagfest tour which kicked off on March 1, 2013 in Würzburg, Posthalle. Kalmah played on the “Extended” dates (March 1,2 and 8-10 2013) along with the band Varg. The tour also included Alestorm, Arkona, Bornholm, Ex Deo, Thyrfing & Wolfchant.

They also played the Nummirock Festival. The festival ran from June 20-22. Kalmah appeared on on June 22, 2013.

The festivals full lineup included;

Amon Amarth, Assemble the Chariots, Chelsea Grin, Children Of Bodom, Demosetä, Dirge Eternal, Edge of Haze, Eläkeläiset, Ensiferum, Ghost Brigade, In This Moment, Insomnium, Lost Society, Mors Principium Est, Nicole, Omnium Gatherium, Pain Confessor, Right to Remain Silent, Rytmihäiriö, Sister Sin, Soilwork, Some Call This Tragedy, Sons Of Aeon, & Wintersun.

Another festival for Kalmah was Qstock Festivaali in Oulu, Finland, which was held on July 26 and 27, 2013. Kalmah appeared on July 27.

Qstock’s full lineup included;

2 Pvä Pe, Perjantai, HIM, Within Temptation, Michael Monroe, The Cheek, Disco Ensemble, Amorphis, First Aid Kit, Anna Puu, Eppu Normaali, Karri Koira, Von Hertzen Brothers, PMMP, & The Shining.

Then they played the Dark River Festival in Kotka, Finland, which ran from August 16-17, 2013. Kalmah appeared on the last day of the festival.

Dark River Fest’s lineup also included:

Boothill Regulators, Omnium Gatherum, Machinae Supremacy, Pain Confessor, Rytmihäiriö, Turmion Kätilöt, Kreyskull, End Of Aeon, Deals Death, & more.

Kalmah’s average set list during the tour:

Pikemaster

They Will Return

Seventh Swamphony

Deadfall

For the Revolution

The Groan of Wind

The Black Waltz

Hook the Monster

Heroes to UsThe Trapper

Hades

(𝙺𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚊𝚑 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟹 𝚒𝚗 𝚆ü𝚛𝚣𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚐, 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢)

Critical Reception:

Kalmah’s “Seventh Swamphony” received positive reviews from critics, with James Weaver at Distorted Sound Magazine stating; “Seventh Swamphony” is just another great addition to Kalmah’s discography, a continuation of their sound that all started back in 2000 with “Swamplord”. This continuation, whilst not bringing anything new to the genre, showcases the pure enjoyment contained within Melodic Death Metal. Kalmah have crafted a truly fantastic album here which again further showcases their outstanding musicianship. A strong contender for album of the year indeed!”

(𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚘 𝙻𝚎𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚗, 𝙿𝚎𝚔𝚔𝚊 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙰𝚗𝚝𝚝𝚒 𝙺𝚘𝚔𝚔𝚘, 𝚘𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟹)

While Dayal Patterson at loudersound.com stated; “The musicianship is impressive, with stellar guitars and the roared vocals underlined by tight percussion and synth work, but it suffers the same problem as a lot of Melodic Death metal in that it cries out for a bit more soul and the sort of memorable songwriting that separates, say, Insomnium from Catamenia.”

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to the U.S. version of “Seventh Swamphony” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/seventh-swamphony-us-version/1443564010

Click this link to watch the official music video for the albums title track, “Seventh Swamphony”: https://youtu.be/RcxlexAJycY

Click this link to follow Kalmah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalmahofficial/

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

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