Arkan – Kelem

[schema type=”review” name=”Arkan – Kelem” description=”Label: Overpowered” author=”Sabine van Gameren” pubdate=”2016-11-25″ ]
The French formation Arkan formed in 2005. The play Melodic Death Metal and are releasing album number 4 this year. It is called “Kelem” and it is out now.

Interesting to know about this band is that they mix some influences from the Middle East in their music. They aren’t the first to do so, but it certainly adds a nice touch to music the guys give us. Listening to this album you might sometimes have to get used to the way the vocals are used in the songs. Here and there it is going a bit more dramatic that thought. Them using different genre influences into it. But when the guys are strongest they are raging hard, have a bit more raw vocals in them and they drag up that speed a bit, give it some power. That’s when they shine the most.
Looking as what they give us it appears a bit that the band gave us a collection of the different sides on them, but sometimes the red tread that binds all seems a little lost. I had trouble seeing it as a piece, but maybe found it tending a bit more to a collector sometimes.

For a future release I hope the guys link all sides of them a bit stronger together. They certainly do great things, but it is not coming together.

Line up:
Florent – Vox & Guitars
Manu – Clean Vox & Guitars
Foued – Drums
Mus – Guitars & Oud
Samir – Bass

Tracklist: 01. Kafir 02. Nour 03. The Call 04. Cub Of The Caliphate 05. Erhal 06. Eib 07. Just A Lie 08. Beyond The Wall 09. Kelem 10. Capital City Burns 11. As A Slave 12. Jasmine Harvest

Links:
Arkan Facebook