Finland’s own masters of frenzied Proto-Metal Kaleidobolt bring the past up to date with a new album that perfectly elevates all the promise and flair their reputation has been boiling over since their 2015 debut album. “This One Simple Trick” packs more punch than most bands with far larger lineups; the deadly trio of Sampo Kääriäinen (guitar, lead vocals, keyboard) and Marco Menestrina (bass, vocals, keyboards, percussions) are reinvigorated by recent new recruit, drummer Mårten Gustafsson.
Gustafsson, according to Menestrina, brought his own “very creative musical mind, drumming chops for days, and a great sense of humor” to “This One Simple Trick.” Kaleidobolt has never sounded this ferocious and exhilarated, that their joy makes the songs on the new record as infectiously contagious as the pandemic they were created under. WIth Gustafsson’s relentless drumming matching every beat of Menestrina and Kääriäinen’s genius instinct for bad-ass rebellious Hard Rock, it feels like “This One Simple Trick” is Kaleidobolt hitting the bullseye in every enthralling moment.
Kaleidobolt’s incendiary humor and the sense of fun that the band brought to the studio, along with the injection of new blood, transfuses straight through the jugular and into a powerhouse collection of explosive songs and relentless energy that’s impossible to deny. Kaleidobolt’s ascension to the zenith of “This One Simple Trick” has been mounting like wildfire, where Finnish bands of this caliber haven’t been seen since the 1970s. The new album was mostly recorded at E-Studio (a very fancy and large studio in southern Finland) in August 2021, and a bunch of overdubs and vocals sessions at Wastement in September/October (a well-worn rehearsal place in Tampere that has been the birthplace of some of last decade’s best Finnish Psychedelic Rock music).
All the sessions were supervised by Niko Lehdontie (best known for Oranssi Pazuzu & Kairon:IRSE!) who produced and mixed this blistering album of stone-age Blues and crushing riffery. Rabble rousing tracks like “Weekend Warrior” give Scandinavian Blues-Rock titans Hellacopters, Graveyard, and Witchcraft a serious run for their money, while Psychedelic riff-mountains like “Ultraviolent Chimpanzee” bring to mind the purple-hazed deserts of Josh Homme on acid suddenly gone all Tame Impala.
References are hard to come by when a band this inspired hits full throttle, but must be witnessed and experienced to believe. Not just our favorite underrated live band of timeless song-smiths, plenty of Psych-Rock aficionados and Prog Rock freaks the world over are starting to wax lyrical about how stupendously potent Kaleidobolt’s Hard Rock magic–brew really is. Come sample it for yourself as Kaleidobolt shows you “This One Simple Trick” with their new single “I Should Be Running”, which can be heard through the YouTube player below:
“This One Simple Trick” is out May 6, 2022 via Svart Records. The pre-order for the album is live: https://svartrecords.com/product/kaleidbolt-this-one-simple-trick-album/
Lineup:
Sampo Kääriäinen / Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard
Marco Menestrina / Bass, Vocals, Keyboard, Percussion
Mårten Gustafsson / Drums
