KAAMOS WARRIORS is a Black Metal band hailing from Kempele, Northern Finland. They formed as a duo in 2018 and later expanded to a trio. They have two full-length albums, with the second, "Shadows of Northern Chaos," released on November 1, 2019. "Kaamos" is a Finnish word referring to the polar night which occurs in the region above the Arctic Circle between December and January. During this time the sun doesn't crest the horizon, immersing the region in the cold, cold dark. KAAMOS WARRIORS capture the essence of this phenomenon in their music.

"Shadows of Northern Chaos" spans eight tracks and just passes the 22 minute mark. It is either a long EP or a short LP. Although three tracks reference "chaos" in their titles, the album is more melodic than discordant. The production values are also higher than your typical cellar brand of Black Metal, adding depth and texture to the album. The dual guitars of Jani and Mikko carve out riffs deep as ruts in a logger trail, while Jyri on bass and a drummer of unknown origin produce a rhythm as heavy as presumed trucks that travel said trail. Mikko's vocals are harsh and raspy, coming in at a mid-range above guttural and below screeching. They blend more than detract.

There are a number of synth/acoustic flourishes throughout the album, suggesting a sophistication the brevity of the songs would seem to counter. This juxtaposition creates the illusion that the album is much longer than it actually is. It also makes the album really interesting. While each track can easily stand on its own, I enjoy the album more listening to it straight through. The album also has a bit of a stoner twinge to it with hypnotic, repetitious riffs that suspend like an icy, thick fog.

Of note to numerologists, mathematicians, and people who like to see patterns where none were probably intended, tracks one, two, and seven are exactly 2:28 long and track six is 3:28. Note: Polar night typically lasts 28 days. Track three is 2:06 and track five is 3:06. Note: In regions that experience polar twilight, the sun hovers below the horizon by 6 degrees. And so the internet has ruined us all.
Favorite tracks are "Chaos & Mayhem," "Ruined by the Plague," "Shadows of the Northern Chaos," "Where Shadows Grow," "Ruins of Hope," and "Moon and Stars." Yep, six of the eight tracks are my favorites. I'm like that annoying parent who insists they love all their kids equally. Well, in this case, most of the kids anyway.

There are no bad tracks on the album, only songs that aren't as good as the others. I should also mention the album features an effect on several of the tracks that I love. As the tracks near an end, the mix flattens to a dull mute, like something impossibly big and heavy enveloped the speakers like a blanket of snow over a dark horizon. All together, "Shadows of Northern Chaos" is an exceptional album showcasing the formidable talents of KAAMOS WARRIORS. I'm very interested to see what these lads will be cranking out in the future. For now, I'm off to download their first album.