Kaosmos - Kaosmos

Kaosmos - Kaosmos

On paper, mixing guttural death metal vocals with clean singing might sound like a terrible idea for a thrash/power metal EP. In practice, Kaosmos does an excellent job blending these elements by keeping the death metal vocals low in both pitch and volume. This way they serve as an added texture or an emphasis by harmonizing with the main vocal line. Teetering on the line between power and thrash metal, the band manages to maintain the hard edge of the latter without compromising what can be the former's keen sense for song structure. Power metal inspires the clean vocals and booming bass more heavily than any other part here, and complements the thrash wonderfully. Kaosmos manages to pull several parts together to create a coherent EP that is enriched through its various elements.

When the vocals aren't carrying the music, the energy levels drop because the riffs don't jump in to intrigue the listener. This is much more vocal centered than much thrash. Guitars often only rhythmically strum power chords in a gallop when not soloing. This weakness in the riffs ability to carry the entire weight of the music can also be heard in the song "My Angel" as it drags along due to this and from an overall ballad type approach that comes across as incredibly generic. Contrast this with the next track "Rage "where the guitar riffs are much more aggressive but the vocals follow a really simple pattern of short quick delivery on almost every beat, a boring staple of thrash. These two songs show you where the cracks are in Kaosmos's synthesis.

While far from perfect, this EP is still an interesting and satisfying mix of power and thrash with an unusual sprinkling of death metal vocals.

Links:
http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Kaosmos/3540349107
https://www.facebook.com/KaosmosOfficialFanPage
https://www.youtube.com/kaosmosthrashmetal

Thanks to Vlad Nowajczyk, Editor-in-Chief of Hard Rocker Magazine for letting me know about this band. https://www.facebook.com/HARDROCKERPOLAND