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Kekal

105 CD Kekal.jpg

1000 Thoughts of Violence
I’ve always had a certain level of respect for Kekal. They are one of those bands that are good at what they do. However, nothing they’ve ever done has really blown me away. I see them as a very talented band, but their penchant for experimenting sometimes gets a little annoying.

On their new album, 1000 Thoughts of Violence, gone are those horrid high-pitched vocals that we heard on The Painful Experience. But what’s more is that this band has really matured as a whole. This album experiments more than any of their other material, but somehow this is their most cohesive and consistent album yet. This Indonesian duo has put together a finely crafted slab of experimental, technical, and progressive extreme metal that is very impressive.

The band said that this is their most extreme and violent album yet. Well, musically they are brutal! And the vocals are better here than the band has ever done. There are some clean vocals mixed in that are so-so, but the black and death vocals are absolutely killer! The band delves quite frequently into some mellower material, but they always come raging back with intensity.

Kekal has definitely taken a huge step forward with 1000 Thoughts of Violence. Experimenting and doing something original doesn’t always equal good. However, Kekal has found just that right mix of risk taking and originality to go along with their base sound. This album will take patience to get into, but it’s worth the effort. [FEAR DARK] STEWART STEVENSON



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Comments

I really like black metal.I m guessing Kekal would like to sound like King Diamond,,To Bad cause i think if they would start using more Brutal vocals,kick out theyr drum machine and hire a REAL drummer maybe use a lady to do the vocals now and then.Like Slechtvalk do.This band would be awesome.I have all their cds ,but i must admit that i think they re a bit wannabe.I liked their atmosperic black metal MORE. So Kekal add to your wish list 1Lady to do some vocals 2A drummer 3Black metal Vocals 4 Some violins You can do it-If you really want to So if like Kekal just a little ,Buy Slechtvalks NEW album.Then you ll see where Kekal could hae been God bless America!! Ivar in Oslo
Posted by: Ivar on December 25, 2003 06:44 AM

I Don t know where Kekal is Going,and i m not sure if they know themself..I used to think they were a atmospheric black metal band. They are good ,but i was hoping for awesome. I belive if they would focus on one genre in metal,not all of themthe result would be so much cooler.You have the right to disagree he he. A metal band with a drum machine is NOT a REAL metal band.Sorry guys. Too much stryper clean vocals here for my taste.I believe i ve listened to the cd about five or six times..That s enough.Get a drummer a violinist and a beatiful lady to do some vocals..Then you ll have Great band.If you re a Kekal fan buy their next cd or buy slechtvalk in stead.Better luck next time Me again
Posted by: Ivar on December 27, 2003 04:14 PM

I see Kekal as doing what every other band loves to do: Their own thing. Yeah sure some of us would tell Kekal what to play and add, but then it wouldn't be Kekal. It would be just another band in a mer de noms (sea of names). I truly respect their musicianship and ability to stay true to God even when they are put on a Cradle of Filth tribute. (They were asked to do a COF song for the COF tribute album. After MUCH prayer and deliberation they decided on a song that just had music and no vocals. That shows how much they are respected and how much they are willing to stand up and represent God even amongst satanic bands.) These guys deserve much more credit than they receive. I can't wait to see what the future holds for these guys as well. And as for their new sound, I could give a thousand puns for getting this cd. Yet none of them include violence beyond the pit. (If you could call that violence anymore (stupid hardcore dancing))
Posted by: Eric D. on December 29, 2003 02:51 AM

Kekal oh Kekal I m sure they re doig what they like.That does not mean that i have to like it or does it. Just the part about adding a real drummer,i read that they wanted to do so themself..I just think that the drummer would add some life to the band. If you ve heard bands like Crimson moonlight slechtvalk You would agree that having a female on Vocals is GOOD...I do not like this cd as much as their previous work,Sorry!! You may like it and if you do go and BUY it God bless Kekal and Eric!!
Posted by: Ivar on December 29, 2003 03:25 PM

About three weeks ago I recieved THE COVENANT PROGRESS by Crimson Moonlight, THE DEFEAT OF SATAN/DESPAIR by Antestor and 1000 THOUGHTS OF VIOLENCE by Kekal. I like them all very much. Although I love true, pure CHRISTIAN Black metal the most, Kekal has put out a great album. I'd say that the most amazing part of this cd is the lyrics, but I also like the diversity of the songs. I agree that they could use an all natural drummer but I don't think that I would change anything else.
Posted by: Aaron on December 30, 2003 11:13 PM

Kekal needs to stand tough at its own musicstyle to be great!! and they are going to that way..... Don't get me wrong. Bands like Slechtvalk and Crimson Moonlight are good but they are like evryone else in the secular scene. But Kekal is one very different band that even the secular scene respect its originality. 1000 Thoughts of violence got 90/100 rating on a respectable Aardschok magazine.
Posted by: Strypened Stripteaser on January 3, 2004 08:08 AM

To Ivar; Did you know that KEKAL has already used your recommendation (romantic-singing of female vocals and the melodic black metal) from 6 years ago??? Check out their debut album "Beyond The Glimpse of Dreams" released in 1998, they already played that kind of stuff you love now from 6 years back, even before Slechtvalk formed and when Crimson Moonlight were only releasing a crappy demotape. KEKAL is an avant-garde metal band, means that they NEVER follow trends but they make a new path instead. I believe this "1000 Thoughts of Violence" style (that is considered as "strange" this year) will be famous 6 years later, just wait for another 6 years and you will like their style. KEKAL is a trend setter, not a trend follower. Anyways, I am moderating KEKAL's Official Message Board. All you KEKAL fans, please join the board. http://pub51.ezboard.com/fkekalofficialforumfrm2 Thank you and God Bless. Wildy
Posted by: WildyWild on January 3, 2004 08:00 PM

I know that they used to be molodic and that was the way liked them.I still don t like their new cd as much as i liked their melodic black metal. I lliked their split with slechtvalk thou.I don t think there s anything wrong with sounding like a secular band. I just like crimson moonlight and pantokrator slechvalk more thats all.Kekal may do what kekal want.It is not that big of a deal.They are just one band.There s a lot of bands for me to like U2 Awakening 16 Horsepower Cush Prayer Chain Saviour Machine Mike Knott Drottnar Arvinger and the list goes on As i said If you like Kekal cool I descide not to!! God bless
Posted by: Ivar on January 7, 2004 06:44 PM

Well I have a question to ask; What makes Kekal a christian Band? Their lyrics or their lifes.. You don t have to agree with me,it is ok to disagree sometimes I m sure Kekal thinks so too I reall don t mind cause there will alway be another cool band around the next corner. Kekal tries to hard.I guess to impress as much as possible.Seems to be workin for some of you Arvinger from Norway is also just 2 guys but they have a real drummer...HA HA God bless
Posted by: Ivar on January 7, 2004 06:59 PM

Hey Ivar, I in no way meant to be rude. I like your view and I think that there should be more bands in the format you are presenting but i think Kekel will breed some cool new extremes for our listening pleasure is all. SOLIDSTATE RECORDS is going to re-release Living Sacrifice's "Reborn" with redone artwork and in an enhanced cd format. Sounds cool huh.
Posted by: Eric on January 13, 2004 04:52 AM

Just a wondering thought: What would happen if Solid State signs Kekal???
Posted by: WildyWild on January 18, 2004 09:22 PM

Maybe they would become a hard core band..No no to clean vocals for that.It is an interesting idea..You never know maybe then a new Nirvana would appear..Would Kekal become a metal core band or would they still be KEKAL METAL..You never know. For me Pantokrator chrimson Moonlight Arvinger Drottnar Does the trick,but hey that s just me.I might like their next cd P E A C E Ivar
Posted by: Ivar on January 19, 2004 03:43 PM

No I don't think Kekal would become a hardcore band, but maybe Solid State would sign more experimental/avantgarde metal bands. Avantgarde metal style like Kekal is now becoming larger in the U.S., with labels like Relapse and The End Rec. signing more bands like this. Hardcore trend is already dead and becoming a pseudo melodic-death, black metal is stagnant, now is the time for avantgarde metal.
Posted by: WildyWild on January 21, 2004 09:19 AM

Well you know taste is a strange thing.I don t thin Hard core is dead i think you re old.Just kidding.How do you know,hard core s dead?? Did you ask around....I thought Hard core was the working class music.I don t care to much about Labels.Either i like it or I DON T.I don t think music becomes great just because everybody likes it.Then again i might like what everybody else like if it is GOOD.I would love to knowif theres any good Goth around.Yeah i mean christian Goth Peace
Posted by: ivar on January 22, 2004 09:57 AM

I'd also like to know about some Christian Goth bands, other than Saviour Machine, Rackets and Drapes...Spy Glass Blue to an extent, I guess. I like Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus and 16 horsepower (totally different though), and love Nightwish and Virgin Black. If anyone knows of a Christian band like any of these...or even like Opeth or Agalloch...I would love to hear about it.
Posted by: matt on February 15, 2004 07:22 PM

I just Matt an e mail In case other than him are looking for cool christian goth heres a couple of bands that i think you should check out Awakening www.awakening.co.za kinda like sisters of mercy at least very good also Ashton Nyte s solo projects Silex Would be another band worth checking out also from South africa.If you re into blck metal i d go for Exaudi from germany.Dead turns alive is a really cool band if you like E B M also germans.Regenerator have this Male female vocal thing Going Not sure if you could label them Goth or just synth.Dark male and seductive female singing Rackets and drapes cd Love letters from Hell is the best cd i ve heard in a long time.I work on radio so i get to hear a lot of crap music.None of the bands mentioned here would go under the crap category..God Bless U From Frozen Norway
Posted by: ivar on February 17, 2004 02:13 PM

I C that need to correct some of the words.I type to fast for my own good. In a couple of weeks i ll c Kekal live in Sweden.Hope they re ok LIVE.You never know i just me be suprised HOPE SO!! Great Goth music AWAKENING www.awakening.co.za No i m not getting paid. E B M Dead turns alive from Germany Ofcause Virgin Black from Australia -Quality !! Evanescence.I have some spelling problems with that band-Please forgive me!!Exaudi -Black Metal-Germany! Arvinger from Norway Black Viking Metal!! Drottnar also from Norway..style would be Black metal i guess.To anyone that does not have RACKETS AND DRAPES NEW CD Love Letters From Hell ..Get it.Really cool music!! Håper alle nordmenn som leser dette har det Bra.Vil Gjern Hilse til David Ryste I arvinger å si at du er en Kjerne Kar Sees om et par uker God Rulz Black and Goth
Posted by: Ivar on February 18, 2004 02:18 PM


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