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 and Kalmah was 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 24 February 2010, Canada on 2 March, Europe on 3 March and North America on 6 April. 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.
In 2012, Kalmah finished filming a new music video for their upcoming album, due to be released in 2013. The band have kept fans up to date with their process via social networking website Facebook by uploading different photos, as well as a short behind the scenes video from the day of filming their video. They also announced that they currently have 6 songs finished, and they plan to enter the studio in January 2013. The artwork for their seventh studio album will be created by artist Juha Vuorma, the man also behind the art of Kalmah's first 3 albums. In April 2013, it was announced that the band will release their seventh studio album, Seventh Swamphony, on 17 June.
Kalmah's eighth album, Palo, was released on April 6, 2018. A single from the album, "The Evil Kin" was released on February 9, 2018
Bitter Metallic Side
Kalmah Lyrics
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Day after day those same routines
And lifetime filled with happiness
The most greatest joy
So great is the sea so small your boat
But you don´t know if you don´t row
And so great is the sky above your blue eyes
In the smallest crack of your life´s track
Is a chance for me to attack
Now the time is right for you to say
Your last goodbyes
Face yourself, your own dreams
I am your real demon hidden in your mind
I´ll show you my own world, I´ll take you down to the
Bitter metallic side
You´re lying next to me and you´re too good to me
And I think you know I can´t let you go
Bitter
But don´t throw away your last coin
I have to do this all my own
I only want you to know
I´m buried deep down in your soul
The opening lines of Kalmah's song "Bitter Metallic Side" describe the monotonous routine of life which often leads to a sense of contentment and happiness. However, the song takes a dark turn as the lyrics suggest that there is a demon lurking in the mind of the singer, waiting in the smallest crack of their life's track to attack. The chorus warns the listener to "face yourself" and confront their darkest desires because the bitter reality lies beneath the surface.
The metaphor of the sea and the sky highlights the unknown depths of the human psyche, suggesting that we are capable of both good and evil. The lines "You're lying next to me and you're too good to me" hint at a deeper, darker desire for control and possession, which the singer struggles to suppress. The lyrics suggest that the demon within is buried deep in the soul of the singer, and they cannot be easily rid of it.
Overall, "Bitter Metallic Side" is a warning to confront one's inner demons and not to become complacent in the happiness of routine. The song has a haunting intensity that forces the listener to confront the possibility of their own darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
And life goes on with harmony
Life seems to flow effortlessly
Day after day those same routines
Every day is monotonous and uneventful
And lifetime filled with happiness
This life is full of countless moments of joy
The most greatest joy
True ecstasy
So great is the sea so small your boat
The world is vast and our existence is insignificant
But you don´t know if you don´t row
We must venture out of our comfort zone to gain new experiences and knowledge
And so great is the sky above your blue eyes
The universe is immense and skies are vast
But you can´t see behind the lies
However, the truth is often obscured from our view
In the smallest crack of your life´s track
Even the smallest opportunity can be exploited
Is a chance for me to attack
The slightest opening can lead to disastrous consequences
Now the time is right for you to say
The moment has come for you to bid farewell
Your last goodbyes
To say goodbye forever
Face yourself, your own dreams
Confront the reality of your own desires
I am your real demon hidden in your mind
I am your innermost fears and doubts
I´ll show you my own world, I´ll take you down to the
I will reveal to you the truth
Bitter metallic side
The harsh, unforgiving reality
You´re lying next to me and you´re too good to me
You are beside me and I cherish your presence
And I think you know I can´t let you go
But I am unable to let go of my darker impulses
Bitter
The reality is harsh and unkind
But don´t throw away your last coin
Do not leave yourself completely destitute
I have to do this all my own
I must bear the burden of my actions alone
I only want you to know
I only want you to understand
I´m buried deep down in your soul
I am your deepest, darkest thoughts and impulses
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTTI JOHANNES KOKKO, JANNE TAPANI KUSMIN, MARCO SNECK, PEKKA TAPIO KOKKO, TIMO JUHANI LEHTINEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind