Candlelight Records continues to put out more than impressive records. 2005 has been a good year for them and Kaamos' Lucifer Rising is among the best they have released. Kaamos is a Finnish word that refers to the term darkness as well as a phenomenon that occurs in northern parts of Finland in winter. Kaamos plays a deeply structured form of old school metal, with no synths, harmonizers, clean vocals, female vocalists, or any galloping riffs filled with huge melodies. Lucifer Rising is their sophomore output.
This is first generation death metal in the style of Entombed, Dismember, and Grave. That's quite understandable as Kaamos is also from Sweden; but there is more to this band. Plenty of Morbid Angel and Immolation characteristics are also heard in their songs. Morbid Angel's Trey Azagthoth would be pleased if he gave the solos on "Theriomorphic Pandamonium" and "Dark Void" a listen. Kaamos' lead work is highly atonal, lending the already dark songs a more eerie edge, producing a huge contrast with the grinding riffs, pulverizing bass and inhuman death vocals. The band's interest in American death metal is also heard on almost the entire record, spanning roughly 38 minutes, shifting into slow, but extremely heavy guitar riffage, resulting in dark atmospheres best captured on Immolation albums. "Inaugurating Evil", the amazing title track, and the instrumental "Ascent" are all filled with blackish, almost early Celtic Frost and Venom inspired nihilism, enhanced through a variety of sounds, including strong back up vocals on "Lucifer Rising", fantastic bass lines from Karl who is also the vocalist, and phenomenal guitar themes that hold the songs together. On almost every track, Kaamos has huge threads around which they build their songs, never straying too far away from the roots of early-90's death metal.
I have to give special mention to new drummer Chris Piss. Not to undermine the other musicians' great performance, the drumming is easily the best element on the album. Chris works the rhythms with perfect timing, technical fills, great double drum bass, and creative tempo changes. Unlike most other death metal drummers, he is also able to play slow rhythms with unique beats, rarely heard on today's death metal albums. He will impress right from the first track "Black Revelation", presenting an off-the-wall drum solo right in the intro. Give this guy a listen. One of the better death metal discs of the year.
Track Listing
- Black Revelation
- Gnosticon
- Inaugurating Evil
- Theriomorphic Pandæmonium
- Dark Void
- Lucifer Rising
- Sacrament in Red
- Mysterious Reversion
- Chthonic
- Ascent
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