365 Days of Metal: Rebecca Black Metal Friday vol. 4

It`s been almost three weeks since Rebecca graced us with her presence. Unacceptable.

Day 47

Keep of Kalessin - Reptilian

Artist Origin: Trondheim, Norway
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Running Time: 57 minutes
Release Date: May 10, 2010

Best Part: Closing track.

Favorite Tracks: Reptilian Majesty, The Dragontower, Dragon Iconography, and Leaving the Mortal Flesh.

Grade: 4.0
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Reptilian in 20 words or less:

The third record under the new iteration of this captivating melodic black metal band that continues to push the traditional boundaries of the genre.

The Band:

Keep of Kalessin is a melodic black metal band out of Norway that plays a variant that also goes against the grain of traditional Norwegian black metal by using instruments not generally associated to the genre, such as piano and synths. Formed originally in 1993, Keep of Kalessin split-up in 2000 although lead guitarist and founder Arnt "Obsidian C." Grønbech would not give up on the project. After auditioning and joining Satyricon Obsidian C. continued to work on Keep of Kalessin, reviving the project in 2003 for the release of the Reclaim EP, and eventually reconstituting the band, bringing in a new lineup in 2005.

Keep of Kalessin's other releases include: Through Times of War (1997), Agnen: A Journey Through the Dark (1999), Armada (2006), and Kolossus (2008)

Jay's Take on Reptilian:

Reptilian is Keep of Kalessin's most recent release and third release under Obsidian C.'s new formation of the group. Featuring the same style that has been a staple for the band throughout the years, Reptilian is fast, melodic and still manages to carry the necessary amounts of technicality in its composition. Alternating between the traditional tremolo picked and distorted guitars, to eerie synth driven atmospheric moments, Keep of Kalessin has always kept a certain epic feel to their music, regardless of its relative level of harshness, which continually shifts on the fly. The band has also always managed to keep their records relatively clean for the genre they play, something that lends considerably to the melodies they create. Since the new iteration of Keep of Kalessin re-emerged with Armada, the band has continued to grow and evolve as musicians, something which Obsidian C. kept as a core value for keeping the name alive during his years with Satyricon - the time having been used to become a better musician and lyricist.

Sample of the Day:



- J