Komi Bell is an Oulu-based project, created by musician Timo Tyynismaa (the bassist of Clock Paradox). This debut demo was totally created to test how people will welcome it, and its different take on metal music. Okay, I understand it, because every musician taking part here have their other active bands.

Timo Tyynismaa's idea was to mix four-part vocals with melodic metal music. Basically, ways and means are endless. 'Time of Day' starts with Laplandish tribal vibe, both musically and vocally, then enters a proggy musical part. As the vocalists re-appear, the music gets simpler, but the proggy part returns as a chorus part. The first impression was, that while the music is happening at its best, it feels like the vocalists steal to show. Surely, their powerful quartet is able and this indeed sounds new in metal music framework, but the music is notable, too. But those female duo's "aaahs" and "ooohs" are challenging to resist... All the vocalists aren't singing simultaneously all the time, and neither do they all take lead role every time they do their thing.

'Note to Self' starts with a rhythmic gimmick, before entering a calmer part back by acoustic guitar and rhythm section. While the electric guitar makes a return, the song is more emotional as the opener. 'Nothing of You' takes a few steps towards darker metal, and also towards more emotionally charged feel, with a fantastic musical eruption which is its guitar solo part. Here, it is the music's time to really talk. 'May I' does have the same qualities emotions-wise, but is a tad more rocking song because of its straigter musical nature. This last song kind of put the period to my thought: Music could have been in a bigger role, and especially more varied.

The sound quality on this demo is two-parted. The vocalists are in the main role and their singing is mixed flawlessly. The instrumetal side is crummier, demo-sounding. It's just that guitars for example sound quite flat, without any bite. Timo Tyynismaa should take Komi Bell out there, and see how a bigger crowd would welcome them. I think, that this kind of music has its market, also in live environment. It would be nice to witness this live, without a doubt. Thumbs up for the idea, but I wished for broader musical escapade, so it feels like a case of unused capacity.

Reviewed by Lane
12/01/2011 12:19