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Callisto: Providence
18/03/09 || Euthanatos
I think I’ve said it in some review before, that professionally, I think all reviewers should be familiar with a band’s past albums in order to analyze their latest release. Problem is, none of us here at GD do this for a living, quite the contrary, we’re constantly juggling our real life jobs and do this as a hobby. What we get from it are headaches, a bunch of yelling from Lord K because we’re always lacking and a bit, just a bit of pleasure from writing about metal albums. What I mean by this is that I certainly should have listened to Callisto’s former work to better grasp “Providence” (I’ve listened to some odd songs just to have an idea, but no full albums), but I just don’t have the time for it, so I’ll have to review it with the impressions at hand alone. And, some say, that’s what reviewing should really be about; express what you’re listening to the reader, so he can have an idea about it and make up his mind if he wants to dive in or not.
I’m making a case for all that shenanigans above here, because it seems the Callisto from before is quite different from the one now. There not only has been a change in vocals, the musical style, described before as post-metal, is now a lot more mellow and ridden with clean vocals. I, for one, enjoyed it, but maybe you’re a huge fan of their sound from before and can hate it now. I can only speculate.
The overall vibe of “Providence” does feel like post-metal to me at moments, but most of the time it’s not really that heavy, but progressive and quite atmospheric. The vocals do have a lot of despairing screams in them, but mostly they’re clean, tortured lines that speak of God and all things under him. But no, they are not preaching. At least, I don’t think so.
A lot of moments Callisto even goes away from metal altogether. Very, very frequently, to tell the truth. A softer kind of music, an ethereal rock, if you will, takes over and accompanies Jani Ala-Hukkala’s mellow vocals.
Something that just came across my mind to give you some idea is this; Do you like Amorphis pre-vocalist change and current Amorphis? They’re radically two different bands, but some people, like myself, absolutely love both kinds of music. I think the same principle can be applied to Callisto; while radically different from before, this is music, and damn good music at that. Is that enough to satisfy you? It is for me.
I like it. I think I’m gonna decorate it. For Jesus.
The cover: Cool flame, but it would look a lot better without the band name and album title in the middle.
7 hymns to the Almighty out of 10.
* Information- Released: 2009
- Label: Fullsteam Records
- Website: www.callistochaos.com
- Band
- Jani Ala-Hukkala: vocals
- Markus Myllykangas: guitars, backing vocals
- Johannes Nygård: guitars
- Juho Niemelä: bass, backing vocals
- Ariel Björklund: drums
- Arto Karvonen: synthesizers, samplers
- Tracklist
- 01. In Session
- 02. Rule the Blood
- 03. Covenant Colours
- 04. Eastern Era
- 05. New Canaan
- 06. Stasis
- 07. Where the Spirits Tread
- 08. Dead Weight
- 09. Drying Mouths (In a Gasping Land)
- 10. Providence
