Release year: 2024
Label: Misantropia Records

Put together, the two acts on this split have (according to Discogs) a total of 63 releases since 2012. That’s pretty prolific – but scarcely balanced, considering Somber Winds is responsible for two of these, and Kalmankantaja for the remaining 61.

And then there’s all the other acts Kalmankantaja main man Grim666 is involved in, of which we’ve covered dungeon synth act Waeltaja and atmospheric black metal act Voidwind.

That’s a lotta releases.

So many nobody will blame you if you wonder to what extent quantity has superseded quality.

Well, in the context of this split, the answer to the above question is: not at all. Kalmankantaja open the proceedings with four tracks of finely crafted, rather smooth and even somewhat polished atmospheric black metal.

I think of turn-of-the-millennium dark metal acts such as Throes Of Dawn when listening to this. Black metal is usually considered an inherently pretty extreme form of music, but this is absolutely un-extreme. Don’t take that as derision. All I mean is that in the atmospheric, melancholic, somber and even tender vistas Kalmankantaja paint, there’s no room for brutality or aggression.

The predominantly mid-tempo to slow tracks consists of melodic tremolo riffing, atmospheric passages of clean, tender guitar melodies, atmospheric synths that paint pictures of mist and faraway landscapes, and gruff but not particularly ripping vocals. Similarly to related act Voidwind, this is the music of forlorn sadness, autumn, rain, and longing. Beautiful is the word we’re looking for.

And it is good. No track stands out as a “hit”, but Kalmankantaja’s side is definitely one worth spining several times.

And then Somber Winds come on. Talk about a hangover. Kicking in with a wobbly beat that struggles to keep in time and untight riffing, Somber Winds feels a bit like a demo stage version of Kalmankantaja. Stylistically the two acts are quite similar, as Somber Winds too focus on atmosphere more than brutality, and don’t feel the need to speed through their tracks.

But, indeed, despite some stylistic overlap, the two acts are polar opposites in all other ways. Kalmankantaja feels balanced, thought out and polished. Somber Winds feels raw, unfocused and sloppy. It’s not only the untight musicianship: the sound is rawer and sharper in a bad way, the compositions feel less focused… well, Somber Winds’ side just doesn’t match up to the first half of the split.

Especially as follow-up to Kalmankantaja’s side Somber Winds feels just inadequate. Perhaps as a standalone release (a demo, mayhap) one could have overlooked some of the shortcomings, but in this company, the contrast is so glaring it becomes impossible.

The resulting release is one of contrasting quality and convergent style. Kalmankantaja leave a very positive impression on the listener; Somber Winds not so much. That’s a shame.

However, despite the somewhat sagging second half of the split, I do think fans of light, atmospherioc black metal should check out this split. Kalmankantaja’s half gives you your money’s worth; if you get something out of Somber Winds, that’s just an added bonus.

Visit Kalmankantaja on their Bigcartel or Facebook
Visit Somber Winds on Bandcamp or Facebook