Band:	Keep Of Kalessin
Album:	Epistemology
Style:	Melodic black metal, Progressive black metal
Release date:	February 16, 2015
A review by:	BitterCOld

01. Cosmic Revelation (Intro)
02. The Spiritual Relief
03. Dark Divinity
04. The Grand Design
05. Necropolis
06. Universal Core
07. Introspection
08. Epistemology
09. Anima Bundi [feat. Attila Csihar] [bonus]
10. Novae Ruptis [bonus]

Everyone's favorite EuroVision contestants are back for the first time in nearly five years with Epistemology, playing more of that epic extreme metal or whatever it is they do so, uh, doingly.

Ok, so "doingly" might not be a real word. I made it up as it seemed to best hit the point I was trying to make. They set about crafting extreme metal songs in a manner that was industrious, but which absolutely failed to connect with me and inspire any type of emotional reaction.

On one hand, Keep Of Kalessin are really skilled and accomplished musicians. I wish I had 10% their talent. They write some great riffs, have some face-melting soli, and have serious chops.

On the other the release is just awash with (irony alert: ) shortcomings and flaws.

This is the first release without Thebon (Thelob? Shelob?) on vocals, leaving the work to Mister Claw. OC/KOK mix in a couple approaches - clean, rasped, and narrated. The rasped vocals have an Ihsahn quality to them and fit well. They do the job. The clean vocals just annoy me. I'm not a huge fan of narrators in metal albums, but at least this is executed better than, say, the dude with a mild speech impediment in Rhapsody Of Fire's "Heroes Of The Lost Valley".

The drummer sounds like a beast behind the kit, but the drums just sound weaksauce. A total lack of force behind them, even though I can imagine him battering the kit in the studio. I would love to hear what it would have sounded like if they'd used Dave Lombardo's set up when recording "War Ensemble".

The songwriting would also drastically benefit from some editing. For starters, while there are some great riffs and soli, there are no great songs. "Dark Divinity" and "The Grand Design" show some promise. Then the clean chorus kicks in? and momentum just dissipates.

A problem exacerbated by the fact five of the eight tracks exceed seven minutes in length, with two approaching a full 10 minutes each. This isn't doom metal peoples! It's extreme metal of some form or another. Get in. Blow shit up. Make your point. Get out.

For example, "Necropolis" uses a cool scale that gives it a different vibe from the rest of the album. I enjoyed it. For about 4-5 minutes. But it just keeps going. On. And on. And on. And on, despite the fact it just begs for a Ghost BT (BT for Bolt Thrower. Aren't I clever?) fade ou

I get their desire to make an epic track or two. Maybe close the album out with some epic song? which they do. But when five of seven (non-intro) songs drag on it's a bit much. Trim the rest down. Make your audience leave wanting more, not wishing the song/album were over already.

So ultimately this band has huge potential, which is what makes Epistemology so underwhelming. I expected better because (Pointing to a copy of Armada) I know these guys can do better.