While they’re busy sharpening their blades in the studio, Keep of Kalessin are taking stock of their treasured discography. The Norwegian pioneers of epic extreme metal are reissuing several albums through their new label Season of Mist. And they’re starting with one of their most decorated crown jewels.
While forged from their ironclad brand of melodic black metal, Kolossus elevated Keep of Kalessin to a higher field of battle. Their colossal fourth album not only cracked the Top 20 of the Norwegian Albums Chart. It also crowned the band with their second Spellemannprisen nomination.
Season of Mist will reissue Kolossus on February 14, 2025
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12″ Double Vinyl Gatefold (Marbled Turquoise)
Even Norwegian legends aren’t immune to metal’s epidemic lineup changes. With the departure of Frost and Atilla, even those who’ve followed the band through times of war might’ve feared that Keep of Kalessin had been mortally wounded ahead of their fourth album.
Of course, Keep of Kalessin rose to the occasion. Backed by a new wizard on bass, an Internet sensation behind the drum throne and their fearless axeman of a leader Arnt Obsidian, the band fortified their prominent position amongst the hallowed halls of Norwegian metal with Kolossus. Guitar solos slice like long swords; double bass pounds with all the relentless fury of a war drum, while the acoustic polish and symphonic flurries only extend the scope of their epic artillery.
“My name will spawn legends”, vocalist Thebon screams, going down in a blaze of glory during the album’s ascendant grand finale.
Even amongst their many treasures, Kolossus still shines as one of Keep of Kalessin’s crown jewels.
More praise for Keep of Kalessin
“Keep of Kalessin’s two-decade journey has been one of constant evolution…What has remained constant, though, is the band’s sense of ambition and epic scale” – Metal Hammer
“By emphasizing songwriting that skewed towards the epic and often incorporated symphonic and progressive elements alongside huge, polished production values, they offered a sound that felt like it spanned just about every aspect of metal but managed to pull it together in a seamless manner – Metal Trenches
“Totally turned black metal on its head” – Metal Sucks
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Posted on October 2, 2024Norway is known for pioneering a legendary branch of extreme metal, but no band embodies the scene’s epic resolve quite like Keep of Kalessin.