This is the second release from the prog-rock Swedish band Paatos. Their label, InsideOut Music is right now the mother of all that is progressive; sheltering bands such as Evergrey, Ayreon, Symphony X, Spock's Beard and others.
Kallocain is a soft and mellow album which reminds me the calmest moments of The Gathering. According to the band, they are influenced by King Crimson, Portishead, Bjork and other artists from that genre. Add some 70's and jazz flavor and you have a first taste of the album.
Petronella's sweet voice is the main element of the music, with the subtle space-trip tunes adding to the whole honey dripping feeling.
Don't get me wrong, the production and the performances are great. The music sounds excellent if you are in the right mood and it can create a moody atmosphere for some relaxation after a hard day.
The problem with me is that the flow of the music is too linear; by the end of the album you'll feel that it was a straight float through the clouds. No ups and downs, nothing to shake you during your journey.
I was so relaxed after fifty minutes of Kallocain, that my first move was to play some Kreator to feel the blood flowing in my veins again, if you know what I mean... Then again perhaps it's just me being a cruel bastard with minimum emotions... Uhem.
This is definitely a band to look out for and this is a promising debut for Paatos with InsideOut Music. Hopefully they will be more eager to experiment in their next release.
The Special Edition contains a bonus DVD with 4 live tracks.