In 1991, Pekka Kokko and Petri Sankala founded the metal band Ancestor. After Ancestor had recorded two demos, Antti Kokko joined the band as lead guitarist. In 1998, after five demos, Ancestor disbanded. Later in the same year, Kalmah formed. The new band consisted of Pekka Kokko performing vocals and guitar, Antti Kokko on lead guitar, Pasi Hiltula on keyboards, Altti Veteläinen on bass, and Petri Sankala on drums.
Kalmah began to write songs for a promotional CD entitled Svieri Obraza. With this demo, they acquired a recording contract with Spinefarm Records and headed to Tico-Tico Studios to record their debut album, Swamplord.
By November 2001, they returned to Tico-Tico Studios to record their second studio album, They Will Return. By this time, Veteläinen and Sankala were replaced by Timo Lehtinen on bass and Janne Kusmin on drums, respectively. In 2002, Kalmah played shows in Finland and at Wacken Open Air.
In February 2003, they recorded their third studio album, Swampsong. In 2004, keyboardist Pasi Hiltula left and was replaced by Marco Sneck. The band released The Black Waltz in 2006 and For the Revolution in 2008. Kalmah toured in Canada and Finland to promote the latter album.
Kalmah's sixth studio album was released in Japan on February 24, 2010, Canada on March 2, Europe on March 3, and North America on April 6.
Recording and mixing took place from May to August at Tico-Tico Studios in Finland, and mastering for the disc took place at the Cutting Room in Sweden.
The track Bullets Are Blind was released in December 2009 on a 2-CD collection included with the 35th anniversary issue of Soundi magazine.
In March 2010, 12 Gauge became the first Kalmah album to be released on vinyl. The album was mastered for vinyl by Joona Lukala, Noise for Fiction, and released by Svart Records in a limited run of 500 copies.
Current members
• Pekka Kokko – vocals, guitar (1998–present)
• Antti Kokko – lead guitar (1998–present)
• Marco Sneck – keyboards (2004–present)
• Timo Lehtinen – bass (2001–present)
• Janne Kusmin – drums (2001–present)
Former members
• Anssi Seppänen – guitar (1992−1993)
• Altti Veteläinen – bass guitar (1998–2001)
• Petri Sankala – drums (1998–2001)
• Pasi Hiltula – keyboards (1999–2004)
• Antti-Matti Talala – keyboards (1999)
Kalmah
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Description
In less than a year after its formation, Kalmah was signed by Spinefarm Records. The word "kalmah" is Karelian and could be translated as "to the grave" or "to the death."
Announcements
European melodic death metal act Kalmah has revealed that it will be taking part in the upcoming edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival. The 2011 edition of Summer Breeze is set to take place between August 18th, 19th and 20th, 2011 in Dinkelsbuhl, Germany.
The festival line-up now inlcudes:
ARCH ENEMY
BOLT THROWER
CALIBAN
FARMER BOYS
J.B.O.
KALMAH
KVELERTAK
PRIMORDIAL
SALTATIO MORTIS
THE HAUNTED
TÝR
VOMITORY
WITCHERY
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