12 Gauge (Kalmah album)
| 12 Gauge | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Kalmah | ||||
| Released | February 24, 2010 | |||
| Recorded | May–August 2009 Tico-Tico Studios, Finland |
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| Genre | Melodic death metal, thrash metal | |||
| Length | 42:58 | |||
| Label | Spinefarm | |||
| Producer | Kalmah | |||
| Kalmah chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |
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| Blistering | 8/10 |
| Imperiumi.net | 8+/10 |
| MetalEater | B+ |
| NecroWeb | 10/10 |
| PopMatters | 8/10 |
| Soundi | 4/5 |
| Stalker | 8.5/10 |
12 Gauge is the sixth studio album by the Finnish melodic death metal band Kalmah, released on February 24, 2010. The album was recorded with more thrash metal elements than their previous releases, while the melodies that the band is known for and environmental themes regarding the swamps of Finland were retained. 12 Gauge was recorded in three sessions over a four-month period at Tico-Tico Studios in Finland.
Each of the band members kept in touch with their fans by keeping track of their recording sessions online at the official website's studio diary. In addition, guitarist Antti Kokko videotaped the recording and photo shoot sessions. Seven videos were posted online during the months leading up to the album's release. Promotion for the album was otherwise minimal. There were no official singles, but the track "Bullets Are Blind" was released on a 2-CD compilation included with Soundi magazine's 35th anniversary issue, and a music video to the album's title track was produced and posted online.
12 Gauge received generally favorable reviews by European and American critics, with a few considering it better than either of its immediate predecessors, For the Revolution and The Black Waltz. It was agreed that the band succeeded in producing a thrashier album, but most critics found the music to be less sophisticated than the band's previous efforts. 12 Gauge charted in two countries, peaking at number 32 in Canada and number 15 in the band's homeland. Because the band had not been offered a worldwide tour, support for the album would be limited to Europe and Canada.
When Kalmah began writing music for their melodic death metal album, their intent was to incorporate more "aggressive thrash material" than their previous recordings had. As a result, the songs were going to be, as vocalist Pekka Kokko described, "quite straightforward", but the band did not want to lose the melodies they were known for. The album would not be entirely thrash metal, since the band planned on adding acoustic guitar sections and also trumpets.
Antti Kokko, the primary songwriter for 12 Gauge, composed the riffs and melodies at his home. These ideas were developed into complete songs during rehearsals. Guitar and keyboard solos were then written, sometimes with both instruments soloing in the same song, trading off repeatedly. Two of the tracks, "Godeye" and "Sacramentum", were composed entirely by keyboardist Marco Sneck, including the solos.
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