Chaos Born

Still cold, still old, but that doesn’t stop Catamenia from throwing another one at us the very next year. I think they’re realizing now that keyboards are quickly becoming an old tactic, but this time they’re actually handling it with stronger leads (as opposed to sticking with the formula and hoping for the best like on the last album). What I dislike the most about this album is how messy it sounds – like a blizzard in a land where everything was just cold, not attacked by a snowstorm.

This is the last album with the original vocalist, who does the same high shrieks and tired growls. His shrieks / screams always sound great, and here I’d say they’re at their peak since it sounds like someone slit his throat. His growls aren’t really all that great, but they’re still a nice addition. Sometimes he’ll do some pretty lame yelling with a back-up clean vocalist – please excuse this vocal style because it has no place here.

There are considerably less keys, which means no more abundant enchanting background notes or magical keyboard solos. Nay, the album comprises of more refined riffs; they take on a very melodic and optimistic approach, much like Eternal Tears Of Sorrow (but less focused sounding). The guitar tone is chilly as ice in your very hand, and while the rupturing tenor isn’t completely back, it does give off this bright mind-set. The older albums were dark and rather gothic, but these new ones, like I foretold in the earlier reviews, really aim more towards power metal-esque leads, rising to the challenge of evildoers and poseurs alike. It’s trait that hasn’t yet been refined, but will characterize Catamenia’s music to come.

Bass still manages to grumble along unopposed, though it may have a harder time doing it. For one, everything sounds very loud; from the eclectic leads to Mika’s banshee screams to the cymbals crashing – its just one big chaotic blizzard. Regardless, the drum kit is fucked sideways – it must have been a production balance fuck-up, because the crash cymbal is way too loud. It has the ability to drown out nearly everything, and hear it does so to a good half of the instruments taking part. Awkward, since the toms are relatively quieter and the drum bass is much quieter. I won’t doubt the man’s bashful playing, but the drummers of Catamenia haven’t had a damn good production job since Morning Crimson.

Here is where I start to get confused calling Catamenia black metal, even if they are a “melodic” variant of such. This sounds more like straight up power metal with harsh vocals than it does melodic black metal. The screams fit well with the black metal, but go tell that to Kalmah and Eternal Tears Of Sorrow while you’re at it. Shit, they’re all Finnish bands, so why not group them all together anyway. Anyway, this marks the end of the band’s second phase, and isn’t it lovely that they ended on a positive note?

Although at this point there area alot of people out there that label Catamenia as a Dimmu Borgir clone, I can say without a doubt that they aren't...or at least, not exactly. Obviously, Dimmu Borgir's "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant" was a major influence for the band on this release, but having listened to and studied all of Catamenia's previous albums, I would have to say that the band has definately evolved and improved and are finally producing much higher quality melodic BM now than they were in years past, Dimmu clone or not.

It seems like with the new lineup on this album (new drummer and keyboardist), the band finally sounds pretty solid and where it needs to be as far as songwriting and technical performance are concerned. Essentially, they picked up right where they left off with "Eskhata," their previous album, except that the drummer on this release is much faster and more intense, and the keyboards sound as majestic as ever. Even moreso than the last album, the guitars sound pretty good, as the riffs are becoming better and stronger with each release since "Eternal Winter's Prophecy," and the band is finally starting to truly mix it up vocally by including the rhythm guitarist's (Ari Nissila) lower, growled vocal throughout the album. Although there is less experimentation on this album than there was on the last one, it seems like the band truly knew what they wanted to do this time around, as the whole album is pretty even and doesn't really get boring or redundant until the very end.


As much as I enjoyed this album, I still feel that Catamenia could do better. "Chaos Born" is definatley another huge step in the right direction (their first was with "Eskhata"), but my usual complaints towards the band still stand- the songs could be stronger (except for melodic BM, this is pretty damn good), the overall quality could still be a bit better, etc. But for now, I would consider this release good enough to be a must-have for fans of melodic BM.

This is another great Catamenia album. It continues to be very melodic with black influences. The riffs and melodies are simple, but do the job and are very catchy and addictive. The album has decent atmosphere as well. Its not very dark, but it still gives you a feeling of despair and anger at times.

The drumming and guitars are pretty good. The production is good as well as you can hear all the instruments well, they are balanced. The vocals are really good here and are basically the thing that stands out for most of the album. Since the vocals are good I have no complaints.

There are no throwout songs on this album, although there are two songs that stand out very much. The opener and the closer. "Kuolon Tanssi" is probably the best Catamenia song created thus far. It starts off with a simple drum intro, then a very melodic and relatively slow riff comes in. Then at 0:49, the song simply explodes and changes the mood completely to sad and angry. The riffs here are dark, and the song has a fast as hell feeling with the speedy riffs and fast vocals. It is a great song that never gets tiring. It even has a nice catchy solo at the end.

"Hollow Out" starts off with a growl and then a very melodic mid-paced riff. The riff is repeated many times throughout the song although it doesn't sound too repetitive because the sound is a little different with the vocals, and it is still a very catchy tune meaning it does the job fine.

The rest of the songs are similar in structure. There are usually several riffs that are simple yet melodic and atmospheric, add some drums and very good vocals, and you have yourselves a fairly addictive song. The blackish influence here is what gives the songs more atmosphere for the most part.

Well done album and recommended to fans of black and melodic metal.

Here we have yet another very talented band from Finaland with great melody and a very wintery sound. Although Catamenia's music isn't as complex as a band like Kalmah, they still manage to get the point across in a very simple manner with some nice straight-forward melodic black metal. Chaos Born is a perfect balance of melody, simplicity, and aggression, which so many bands fail miserably at executing.

The album's opener "Kuolon Tanssi" immediately let's you know that you made the right decision by purchasing the album. The song begins with a simple yet powerful slow melody before breaking into some fast as hell black metal riffage and sick vocals. It seems like Finnish people always have very good mucus-induced screams that were made for this kind of music. After breaking into another melody before the chorus, the album is already settled to be amazing. Chaos Born sticks to a certain formula that works brilliantly and never gets boring. More bands should study Catamenia's style in order to imporove their overall sound. Catamenia are so underrated and talented that it makes me happy to know them as an underground band.

This is melodic black metal, not raw. This is the type that works hand in hand with nice clean production. While sounding crisp and clear, Catamenia still are able to set forth a wintery atmosphere that is perfectly represented by the cover of the album. You can imagine yourself in the middle of a snow-covered field or forest when listening to this music. Only skilled musicians have the ability to have great musical talent while setting an overall atmosphere, and Catamenia have perfected that.

Fans of Naglfar, Kalmah, Children of Bodom, Dark Funeral, Immortal Souls, Ludicra, and other melodic black metal acts will love Chaos Born. Definately check out Catamenia, a very underrated band, for a good example of musicianship and atmoshpere all in one package.

I ve always loved Finnish melodic black metal band Catamenia since discovering them in 98 and i ve always been suprised at how criminally underrated they are, and now with their 5 th studio album 'Chaosborn' they have made their best album to date!

If you like mid / fast paced melodic black metal with keyboards, this is the band and album for you!!!! crystal clear sound, great songwriting, and an abundance of great musicianship, fast ferral black metal riffing, thunderous double bass, good keys which are back in the mix, adding an extra dimension to the sound yet never dominating it.This mixed with a wicked sense of melody, great solos and singer Mika's raspy growls and screams have never sounded better! Catamenia have a hell of an ear for a catchy tune, which must be pointed out is one of the things i ve always loved about them, im yet to hear another band in this style that is as catchy as this, you will be humming these songs for weeks after hearing them!

My favorite sonsg on this cd would be fierce yet melodic opener 'Kulon Tanssi' the impossibly catchy ' Calm before the storm' and the "could almost dance to it ", ' One with sorrow ' !

My only critisim is 'The fallen angel part 1' is not so great in my opinion, its alright, but i feel it doesnt live up to the rest of the album, but nothings perfect aye? 'Chaosborn' is a brilliant album and well worth checking out!

www.catamenia.net