Kalmah

{{distinguish|Almah (band)}} {{Short description|Finnish melodic death metal band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Kalmah | alias = Ancestor (1991–1998) | image = Kalmah - Jalometalli 2008 - 01.jpg | caption = Kalmah performing at Jalometalli Metal Music Festival in 2008 | image_size = | landscape = yes | origin = Pudasjärvi, Finland | genre = {{flatlist| * Melodic death metal * power metal }} | years_active = 1991–present | label = Spinefarm, Century Media | website = {{url|kalmah.com}} | current_members = Pekka Kokko <br />Antti Kokko <br />Timo Lehtinen <br />Janne Kusmin <br />Veli-Matti Kananen | past_members = Altti Veteläinen<br />Petri Sankala <br />Pasi Hiltula <br />Anssi Seppänen <br />Marco Sneck }}

'''Kalmah''' is a Finnish melodic death metal band from Pudasjärvi<ref>Multiple sources: *{{cite web |url=http://www.tartareandesire.com/bands/Kalmah/878/ |title=Band biography |publisher=Tartarean Desire |access-date=5 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418153900/http://www.tartareandesire.com/bands/Kalmah/878/ |archive-date=18 April 2009 |url-status=usurped }} *{{cite web|url=http://metalreview.com/2728/Kalmah-The-Black-Waltz.aspx |title='The Black Waltz' Album Review |author=Pigeon, Tim |date=22 February 2006 |publisher=Metal Review |access-date=5 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820200209/http://www.metalreview.com/2728/Kalmah-The-Black-Waltz.aspx |archive-date=20 August 2008}} *{{cite web|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/bands/details.cfm?bandid=1734|title=Kalmah|work=metalunderground.com|access-date=10 January 2017}}</ref> that formed in 1998.<ref>Multiple sources: *{{cite web|url=http://www.kalmah.com/bio.html|title=Kalmah - Swamp Metal|last=Kalmah|work=kalmah.com|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206044139/http://www.kalmah.com/bio.html|archive-date=6 December 2012|url-status=dead}} *{{cite web |url=http://kingdesi.com/ |title=Kalmah – For the Revolution (Advance) |date= 28 April 2008 |publisher=Releaselog |access-date=5 January 2010}}</ref> In less than a year after its formation, Kalmah was signed by Spinefarm Records. The word "kalmah" is Karelian and could be translated as "to the grave" or "to the death".<ref name="metalcrypt">{{cite web |author=Renner, Christian |date=3 November 2001 |title=Interview with guitarist Antti Kokko |url=http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/interviews.php?intid=11 |access-date=5 January 2010 |publisher=The Metal Crypt}}</ref>

==History== [[File:Kalmah Party.San Metal Open Air 2017 16.jpg|thumb|Kalmah at Party.San 2017]] In 1991, Pekka Kokko and Petri Sankala founded the metal band Ancestor. After Ancestor had recorded two demos, Antti Kokko joined the band as lead guitarist. In 1998, after five demos, Ancestor disbanded and Kalmah formed. The new band consisted of Pekka Kokko performing vocals and guitar, Antti Kokko on lead guitar, Pasi Hiltula on keyboards, Altti Veteläinen on bass, and Petri Sankala on drums.

Kalmah began to write songs for a promotional CD entitled ''Svieri Obraza''. With this demo, they acquired a recording contract with Spinefarm Records and headed to Tico-Tico Studios to record their debut album, ''Swamplord'' which was released in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Artist Profile: Kalmah|url=https://eventseeker.com/artist/3016-kalmah|website=eventseeker.com|language=en|access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>

By November 2001, they returned to Tico-Tico Studios to record their second studio album, ''They Will Return''. By this time, Veteläinen and Sankala were replaced by Timo Lehtinen on bass and Janne Kusmin on drums, respectively. In 2002, Kalmah played shows in Finland and at Wacken Open Air. In February 2003, they recorded their third studio album, ''Swampsong''. In 2004, keyboardist Pasi Hiltula left and was replaced by Marco Sneck. The band released ''The Black Waltz'' in 2006 and ''For the Revolution'' in 2008. Kalmah toured in Canada and Finland to promote the latter album.

===''12 Gauge''=== {{Main|12 Gauge (Kalmah album)}} Kalmah's sixth studio album was released in Japan on 24 February 2010, Canada on 2 March, Europe on 3 March and North America on 6 April.<ref name=last>{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/music/Kalmah/+videos/+1--mrkUIORZDw |title=Kalmah – One of Fail |publisher=Last.fm |access-date=23 February 2010}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Recording and mixing took place from May to August at Tico-Tico Studios in Finland,<ref name=diary>{{cite web |url=http://www.kalmah.com/fans_diary12.html |title=Kalmah – Web Gauge (studio diary) |publisher=Kalmah.com |access-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713132924/http://www.kalmah.com/fans_diary12.html |archive-date=13 July 2011 }}</ref> and mastering for the disc took place at the Cutting Room in Sweden.<ref name="sixthalbum">{{cite web|url=http://www.kalmah.com/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427033921/http://www.kalmah.com/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 April 2006|title=Kalmah - Swamp Metal|last=Kalmah|work=kalmah.com|access-date=10 January 2017}}</ref>

The track "Bullets Are Blind" was released in December 2009 on a two-CD collection included with the 35th anniversary issue of ''Soundi'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soundi.fi/node/10108 |title=Soundi.fi 35 vuotta – 36 biisiä |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916100308/http://soundi.fi/node/10108 |archive-date=16 September 2010 }}</ref>

In March 2010, ''12 Gauge'' became the first Kalmah album to be released on vinyl. The album was mastered for vinyl by Joona Lukala, Noise for Fiction, and released by Svart Records in a limited run of 500 copies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.svartrecords.com/shoppe/product.php?id_product%3D76 |title=Kalmah: 12 Gauge LP - Svart Records |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716171019/http://www.svartrecords.com/shoppe/product.php?id_product=76 |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}</ref>

===''Seventh Swamphony''=== {{Main|Seventh Swamphony}} In 2012, Kalmah finished filming a new music video for their upcoming album, due to be released in 2013. The band have 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. They also announced that they currently have six songs finished, and they plan to enter the studio in January 2013.

The artwork for their seventh studio album will be created by artist Juha Vuorma, the man also behind the art of Kalmah's first 3 albums.<ref name="sixthalbum"/>

In April 2013, it was announced that the band will release their seventh studio album, ''Seventh Swamphony'', on 17 June.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/kalmah-to-release-seventh-swamphony-in-june/|title=KALMAH To Release 'Seventh Swamphony' In June|last=Blabbermouth|date=3 April 2013|work=blabbermouth.net|access-date=10 January 2017}}</ref>

===''Palo''=== Kalmah's eighth album, ''Palo'', was released on 6 April 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Men Ruined Melodic Death Metal for Me But Kalmah Saved It|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/men-ruined-melodic-death-metal-for-me-but-kalmah-saved-it/|last=Kelly|first=Kim|date=3 April 2018|website=Vice|language=en|access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref> A single from the album, "Evil Kin" was released on 9 February 2018.

===''Kalmah''=== In March 2023, the band announced their self-titled ninth album would be released on 26 May.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/kalmah-announce-self-titled-album-new-single-out-friday|title=KALMAH Announce Self-Titled Album; New Single Out Friday|magazine=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|access-date=22 March 2023|date=20 March 2023}}</ref>

== Musical style == Kalmah was described as a melodic death metal and power metal hybrid, similar to bands like Children of Bodom, Norther and Wintersun.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tok |first=Korhan |date=2023-06-17 |title=Kalmah – Kalmah |url=https://metalperver.com/2023/06/17/kalmah-kalmah/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Metalperver |language=tr}}</ref><ref name="metalreviewmelodeth">{{cite web |author=Sweeney, Brian |title=Antti Kokko of Kalmah |date=19 April 2008 |url=http://www.metalreview.com/Interviews/30160/Antti-Kokko-of-Kalmah.aspx |publisher=Metal Review |access-date=5 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613222510/http://metalreview.com/Interviews/30160/Antti-Kokko-of-Kalmah.aspx |archive-date=13 June 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=KALMAH revela detalles de su nuevo álbum |url=https://www.metalrock.club/2023/03/kalmah-revela-detalles-de-su-nuevo-album.html?m=1 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=METALROCK CLUB}}</ref>

== Band members == {{multiple image | header = Current lineup | align =center | direction = horizontal | caption_align = center

| image1 = Pekka Kokko (Kalmah) Paganfest 2013 II.jpg | width1 = {{#expr: (275 * 683 / 1024) round 0}} | caption1 = Pekka Kokko

| image2 = Antti Kokko (Kalmah), Jalometalli 2008 (crop).jpg | width2 = {{#expr: (275 * 1249 / 1742) round 0}} | caption2 = Antti Kokko

| image3 = Timo Lehtinen (Kalmah), Jalometalli 2008 (crop).jpg | width3 = {{#expr: (275 * 1048 / 1320) round 0}} | caption3 = Timo Lehtinen

| image4 = Janne Kusmin (Kalmah) Paganfest 2013 II (crop).jpg | width4 = {{#expr: (275 * 683 / 879) round 0}} | caption4 = Janne Kusmin

| image5 = Veli-Matti Kananen (Kalmah) Paganfest 2013 V (crop).jpg | width5 = {{#expr: (275 * 622 / 859) round 0}} | caption5 = Veli-Matti Kananen }} {{-}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;<big>Current</big> * Pekka Kokko – vocals, rhythm guitar (1998–present) * Antti Kokko – lead guitar (1998–present) * Timo Lehtinen – bass (2001–present) * Janne Kusmin – drums (2001–present) * Veli-Matti Kananen – keyboards (2012–present) {{col-2}} ;<big>Former</big> * Altti Veteläinen – bass guitar (1998–2001) * Petri Sankala – drums (1998–2001) * Antti-Matti Talala – keyboards (1999)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metalfromfinland.com/people/209/Antti-Matti+'Antza'+Talala |title=Antti-Matti "Antza" Talala Biography |publisher=Metal from Finland |access-date=2 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114212008/http://metalfromfinland.com/people/209/Antti-Matti+'Antza'+Talala |archive-date=14 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Pasi Hiltula – keyboards (1999–2004) * Marco Sneck – keyboards (2004–2011) {{col-end}}

=== Timeline ===  <div style="float:left;"> {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:0 right:2 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1998 till:{{#time: d/m/Y }} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals,_rhythm_guitar id:guitar value:green legend:Lead_guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:keyboards value:purple legend:Keyboards id:Lines value:black legend:Album id:other value:gray(0.5) legend:Demo,_EP

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1998 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1999

BarData =

bar:Pekka text:"Pekka Kokko" bar:Antti text:"Antti Kokko" bar:Altti text:"Altti Veteläinen" bar:Timo text:"Timo Lehtinen" bar:Petri text:"Petri Sankala" bar:Janne text:"Janne Kusmin" bar:Talala text:"Antti-Matti Talala" bar:Pasi text:"Pasi Hiltula" bar:Marco text:"Marco Sneck" bar:Kananen text:"Veli-Matti Kananen"

PlotData=

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Pekka from:01/01/1998 till:end color:vocals bar:Antti from:01/01/1998 till:end color:guitar bar:Marco from:01/01/2004 till:13/09/2011 color:keyboards bar:Timo from:01/06/2001 till:end color:bass bar:Janne from:01/06/2001 till:end color:drums bar:Altti from:01/01/1998 till:01/06/2001 color:bass bar:Petri from:01/01/1998 till:01/06/2001 color:drums bar:Pasi from:01/05/1999 till:01/01/2004 color:keyboards bar:Talala from:01/01/1999 till:01/05/1999 color:keyboards bar:Kananen from:15/02/2012 till:end color:keyboards

LineData = layer:back color:black at:23/11/2000 at:30/04/2002 at:23/05/2003 at:22/02/2006 at:23/04/2008 at:02/03/2010 at:17/06/2013 at:06/04/2018 at:26/05/2023 color:other at:01/01/1999 at:01/01/2004 }} </div> {{clear}}

== Discography == {{col-begin}} {{col-3}}

'''Studio albums''' * ''Swamplord'' (2000) * ''They Will Return'' (2002) * ''Swampsong'' (2003) * ''The Black Waltz'' (2006) * ''For the Revolution'' (2008) * ''12 Gauge'' (2010) * ''Seventh Swamphony'' (2013) * ''Palo'' (2018) * ''Kalmah'' (2023)

'''Demos and EPs''' ::As Ancestor * ''Ethereal Devotion'' (1992) * ''Material World God'' (1993) * ''With No Strings Attached'' (1995) * ''Tomorrow'' (1997) * ''Under the Burbot's Nest'' (1998) ::As Kalmah * ''Svieri Obraza'' (1999) − promo * ''Demo 2004'' (2004)

'''Videos''' * ''Withering Away'' (2000) * ''The Groan of Wind'' (2006) * ''12 Gauge'' studio diary in seven parts (2009)<ref name=kalmahik>{{YouTube|user = Kalmahik|Kalmahik's Channel}}</ref> * ''12 Gauge'' (2010) (music video) * ''Seventh Swamphony'' (2013) * ''Evil Kin'' (2018) * ''Blood Ran Cold'' (2018) * ''Take Me Away'' (2018) {{col-end}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Official website|http://www.kalmah.com}} *{{allmusic}}

Category:Finnish melodic death metal musical groups Category:Finnish power metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1999 Category:Finnish musical quintets Category:1999 establishments in Finland Category:Spinefarm Records artists