By: Graham “Gruhamed” Hartmann
What do you get when you combine the musicianship of CHILDREN OF BODOM, mix it with the symphonic sensibilities of STRATOVARIUS, the neo-classical knowledge of IGOR STRAVINSKY and smash it through with a melodic death attack? You may expect a group from Finland, Norway or Sweden… but not this time. This time we’re talking about French Canada.
KÄLTER are a five-piece symphonic metal act from Quebec. Inspired by Finnish and Swedish brands of symphonic death metal, KÄLTER recently self-released their first full-length album, Spiritual Angel. Clocking in at just under an hour, the 8-track effort has already been hailed as a masterpiece by musicians and critics alike, routinely scoring from 8.5, to 9 and even 10 out of 10 in recent reviews. So when I checked out the group’s Myspace page and saw only 37,000 plays, I realized that KÄLTER are the yet-to-be-found needle in a haystack.
From the start of Darker by the Day to the final track, which the album is named after, the assault only relents to deliver finely crafted and elegant neo-classical melodies. Perhaps the most impressive track,Time Out of Mind, showcases not only KÄLTER’s signature sound, but also African style drumming, and a breathtaking performance by female guest vocalist Leilindel of UNEXPECT.
This band blew me away after my first listen, and continues to intrigue me with each additional play. With the right kind of promotion and a bit of luck, I wouldn’t be surprised if KÄLTER became a big name in metal households very soon.
Check out KÄLTER at: www.myspace.com/kalterofficial
