Album Review: Kalmankantaja – Musta Aurinko

Band: Kalmankantaja
Album: Musta Aurinko
Label: Wolfspell Records
Release date: July 11th, 2025
Country: Finland
Format reviewed: High quality digital recording

Album Review: Kalmankantaja – Musta Aurinko via Wolfspell Records by Ioana

Kalmankantaja is a band that I’ve been listening to for over two years at this point, and, as one may expect, I have grown really fond of their music. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by the release of Musta Aurinko, which came out about half a year later from their previous work, a split with Askeesi. Now, style wise, Kalmankantaja have been fairly consistent across their expansive discography, despite having various differences from record to record. These differences come mainly in the form of the subgenre they draw upon on, leaning either on the DSBM elements, or more epic, grand ones. This is significant, because if I were to place Musta Aurinkoin these two groups, it would clearly go into the second one, something that I found myself unable to anticipate upon my first listen. That doesn’t matter much however, what does is the music, so I might as well go about actually describing it.

Right of the bat, an aspect of the album that easily stands out are the intros, both the general one for the album, the track “Unohdettujen Marssi” and those of the songs. Now you way be thinking: “It’s literally an intro, no one thinks about it, why are you making such a big deal out of it?”. Well, in this case I have a good reason to, because, at least as far as I am aware, they are a far cry from the average Kalmankantaja intro. It is based around the beat of triumphant drums, guitars and melodic synths, with plenty of interesting effects and textures added all throughout. If I were to make a comparison, I would say that Summoning would be the closest match, an idea supported by the band’s collaboration on the “In Mordor Where The Shadows Are – Homage to Summoning” compilation. Personally I am delighted with this stylistic choice, as it offers a great advantage to the rest of the music, while also establishing an immersive mood. Simply put, part of the reason why this album is so enjoyable is the atmosphere created through these intros and interludes.

“Rautavitsan Veritaika” comes along next, building on the melodic lines established in the intro by the use of slow, rhythmic drumming, simple riffs, synths, and an expressive vocal performance. As is the case for the album itself, it is a very meditative piece of music, something that you may find yourself listening to on a walk through nature or while reading a book. Something that truly impressed me were the ensembles of riffs and synth passages, both being used for both melodies and textures in a very natural, organic way. This is further supported by the production, which falls comfortably between raw and good, maintaining that standard black metal grit while also making sure that each note is clearly audible and harmonious. The vocal performance is also up to standard, its expressivity being emphasized by its place in the music, namely partially blended among the textures, yet still at the front of the composition.

Coming up next there is the title track, “Musta Aurinko”, who follows in a similar vein to its predecessor, while also pursuing more of the Summoning elements that I was mentioning. The overall mood of the composition is triumphant, somewhat optimistic even, being similar to a march in that regard. The drumming in particular emphasizes this idea, as well as some of the melodies being organized around more major-sounding chord progressions. Picture a colder sounding version of a song from “Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame”, and you have an idea of what is happening. Now this is where my only criticism of the record comes in, and it is essentially that there isn’t anything too special or spectacular happening, and in the case of someone approaching this record without the right mood, it will, without much doubt, come off as boring. However, that doesn’t bother me too much, since the album makes it clear that it is not, in any way trying to do anything groundbreaking. To be honest now, not every record has to be mind-blowingly complex, it would be exhausting.

Entering the second half of the record, “Hirsipuun Alla”, tones down the whole shebang of “Musta Aurinko”, focusing more on the meditative mood from the beginning of the record. This is also where we witness a few rhythm variations on the album, including some really cool blastbeat passages tinged with melancholic melodies. This is easily one of my standout tracks, and one that I will be revisiting soon. I enjoy the fact that they brought back the synth textures from their split with Somber Winds, and it is also really solid when it comes to songwriting. Definitely an example of atmospheric black metal done right. I can’t move forward without mentioning the melodic passages towards the end of the song. They add to the ethereal quality of the music, while also adding extra richness to the soundscape. They also happen to come at the same time with some cool lead moments, so keep your ears out for that.

“Unennäkijä” is yet another of my highlights, and probably a song I would recommend to those trying to figure out what this record is all about. In my opinion, it is a fairly balanced blend of the two styles of song present on the album, and it comes in as a great summary for everything that has been happening for the last half an hour of music. You have the intro, and the rhythmic drumming and epic riffs, while also including more moody melodies and synths. I have failed to talk appropriately about the vocals thus far, since they are fairly consistent throughout the record, but it would be unfair not to mention the fact that they are really well executed and do a lot for the record. I have also spoken quite a lot about the synth textures on the album, but this is where they truly shine, as they are shown to be quite varied and even intricate, dare I say.

The album closes up with “Kirottu Maa”, an outro track which reflects the intro both in mood and execution. It serves as a way to close the proverbial circle, and it also leaves you wondering what the next chapter in Kalmankantaja’s journey may look like.

Kalmankantaja has always been a reliable project in my eyes, one that I always come back to simply for the comfort that their music brings me, and this record is no exception. It isn’t flashy by any means, but it carries the black metal spirit without a shadow of a doubt, and the music is great, in all honesty. And given that we are here, it looks like it’s time for me to revisit their discography… 8.5/10

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8.5/10 To Greatness and Glory!
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