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CALLISTO

Experimental/Post Metal • Finland


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Callisto biography
Founded in 2001 in Kokkola, Finland (Later relocated on Turku)

CALLISTO is a Finnish Christian band that incorporates elements of doom,avant-garde metal and post metal into their sound.The band formed due to a tight friendship between the original four members, drummer Ariel Björklund, guitarist Johannes Nygård, bassist Juho Niemelä, and vocalist Markus Myllykangas.They debuted in 2001 with the single "Dying Desire",and after signing with the Finnish label Fullstream they released the EP "Ordeal of the Century".
Their first full-length album "True Nature Unfolds" was released in 2004 and caught the attention of Johannes Persson,guitarist for CULT OF LUNA.Through Persson,CALLISTO was steered toward the Earche label,who quickly signed the band.In 2005 "True Nature Unfolds" was re-released by Earche,which garnered the band world-wide exposure.2006 saw the release of CALLISTO'S second full-length album "Noir".
Influenced by bands like NEUROSIS,ZAO & BREACH,with a sound similar to the other great bands in the post metal genre like ISIS,CULT OF LUNA & PELICAN,CALLISTO will be sure to please fans of this incredible genre of music.Highly Recommended!!!!

(Photo by Juha Metso)

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CALLISTO discography


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CALLISTO top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.60 | 17 ratings
True Nature Unfolds
2004
4.19 | 25 ratings
Noir
2006
3.56 | 17 ratings
Providence
2009
3.87 | 6 ratings
Secret Youth
2015

CALLISTO Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

CALLISTO Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

CALLISTO Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

CALLISTO Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

5.00 | 1 ratings
Ordeal Of The Century
2002

CALLISTO Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Providence by CALLISTO album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.56 | 17 ratings

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Providence
Callisto Experimental/Post Metal

Review by Porcupineapple

5 stars I must start this review by saying that I am one of the rare fans who were not blown away by the band's previous album, Noir (it does have a few great songs, whilst others I would call rather mediocre, eventually tiring me down with each listen), whilst for me the later albums of theirs stand out. Especially Providence, which is one wicked mixture! Mixture of what? Take excellent vocals (with some heavy throat singing) and jaw dropping bass work, add some highly emotional melodies ranging from the most dreamy downtempo guitars the band has ever done to some fair deal of metal riffage, an atmosphere less gloomy than on Noir but still equally dark, and a range of instruments which do not necessarily seem to belong at first (saxophone, flute, mellotron), but only until you realize after a few listens just how amazing the whole thing sounds together. As if a modern Anekdoten has come together for some jamming with Cult of luna in the backyard of Iceland's Kontinuum, creating some truly beautiful post-metal with a sensibly strong Scandinavian Prog vibe. I know the five stars might seem like a bit of a stretch for some, but I simply cannot give this album a lower rating, looking at how innovative ideas it has and how cleverly and confidently these are being put together, ending in something that is not an easy listen but will pay off big-time with each listen.
 Secret Youth by CALLISTO album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.87 | 6 ratings

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Secret Youth
Callisto Experimental/Post Metal

Review by Porcupineapple

4 stars Long story short, Secret youth is nothing but a new and excellent album of a relatively unknown (or shall I say underestimated) Finnish band, deserving a very strong four-star-rating for its overly simple but still more than catchy and likeable ideas. No, there is nothing on this album that you have not heard before, still, it works by delivering on a simple premise: it is not aiming any higher than taking a few progriffs, making them light in construction but heavy in how dark they get, and then spotlessly builds up its 5-minute-long songs around them. To this you might want to add a pinch of excellent bass work (which really stands out from all the other instruments on this album), decent drum work and good vocals, backed up by the occasional throat singing (much less though than on previous albums), ending in songs that are ready to blow away anyone looking for a light Cult of luna, a more pop-sounding Pelican, etc. Truth to be told though, the album might be a letdown to those who fell in love with the band primarily for Noir's brutal, sludgy heaviness or the unconventional rock instruments of Providence, as these are something that Secret youth delibelatery steers away from. However, with these taking the back seat, it gives way to another side of Callisto, succeeding in satisfying those listeners looking for something a bit more on the light side but equal to their previous albums in darkness and quality.
 Providence by CALLISTO album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.56 | 17 ratings

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Providence
Callisto Experimental/Post Metal

Review by Morsenator

4 stars This album is not so generally appreciated, not even by those who think (like I do) that Callisto's second album Noir is a masterpiece. Almost gone are the brilliant proggy crescendos and overall heavy tensions that colourize the palette of the earlier albums (at least they're in a different form here). Instead Callisto draws a lot of influences from art rock and even a bit from country, while adding some beautiful, atmospheric keyboards. Sure, this is not an album for a total metalhead to bang his head all the time with, but why would it have to be? I like the overall mellow and relaxed atmosphere of the album, and the focused-sounding clean vocals. The tracks are more bass than guitar oriented, which also is a nice move in my opinion as their bass player is pretty skilled one. There are some very nice bass patterns like the one on the nicely grooving beginner In Session. So, less prog than their earlier albums, but a very enjoyable release.
 True Nature Unfolds by CALLISTO album cover Studio Album, 2004
3.60 | 17 ratings

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True Nature Unfolds
Callisto Experimental/Post Metal

Review by Morsenator

3 stars The Finnish band Callisto's first album presents a nice set of post-metal songs, many quite similar but still enjoyable. I'm not really that much experienced in the genre, nor usually a fan of it, but there is something in the mood Callisto songs give me that I notice myself returning to them every now and then. One thing I really dig in their style are the quiet parts, while often labelled almost a distraction or a necessary evil to have in metal (at least what I can tell from the writing style of some metallists), are actually many times the real essence of the sound of them. I also like the vocals which are not on the forefront and are sort of less growly than most growls in the heavier side of metal (not a fan of those, either). Songs on "True Nature Unfolds" usually evolve from the nice, peaceful moody parts (like the ones in "Storm") to banging, slow eight-note riffs which while interesting tend to be too repetitive for my tastes. While overall pretty enjoyable, as I said, there is nothing very memorable on this album. Therefore I would not recommend this album as a starting point for those wanting to check the band out, I much prefer their second "Noir". This is a nice album of "chillout evening metal" as I call it (some of you must know what I mean). Nothing more, nothing less.
 Noir by CALLISTO album cover Studio Album, 2006
4.19 | 25 ratings

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Noir
Callisto Experimental/Post Metal

Review by Morsenator

5 stars I just realized this has become my favourite album from Finland, my home country. Not bad, eh? Well, it is hard to find anything negative to say about Noir. Everything that feels out of place or incomplete on the other two Callisto albums comes together here to make absolute sense. They use dynamics wonderfully, never keeping a section going for too long or overusing their heavier sides. A brilliant Opeth-like riff can suddenly turn into a sax solo (on the first track, Wormwood) or even a mellow jazz groove-bass oriented section (Folkslave). And when they finally release their "full power", so to speak, like in the end section of Fugitive, the result is some of the greatest metal I've ever heard. Man, talk about building and releasing tensions. I am usually envious of all the countless great Swedish prog bands, but this cd is something that makes me proud being a Finn. Simply ear candy from start to finish.
 Providence by CALLISTO album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.56 | 17 ratings

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Providence
Callisto Experimental/Post Metal

Review by Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer

3 stars CALLISTO were said to be pretty original and innovative as for average Post-Metal band, but their early releases fail to impress me that much. "Providence" is obviously better, it's some kind of Post-Post-Metal; heavy riffing and distorted vocals mostly replaced with atmospheric mellotron background, dreamy guitarwork and simple rhythm-section. A strong Scandinavian Prog vibe is felt here as well; it's like nowadays ANEKDOTEN jamming with nowadays CULT OF LUNA (which is quite possible, by the way). Some songs even remind me of more "light" Modern Prog like DREDG. So, if you're into mellow and dark atmospheric music, you may try "Providence", but it's definitely not the best Post-Metal release one can imagine
 Providence by CALLISTO album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.56 | 17 ratings

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Providence
Callisto Experimental/Post Metal

Review by jpgarcia7787

3 stars Some parts of this album come across really cool, but at other times, it seems really bland; giving me mixed feelings about it

In Session was a great track to open up with. I liked a lot of the melodies between the vocals and the deep guitar parts. I really got into this one.

Rule the Blood was a decent track too, but it seemed like too many of the melodies were repeated over and over again within the tracks following it, Covenant Colours and Eastern Era. When listening, you feel like you're stuck in the same song, even though you're positive the tracks have changed. If they were all presented as one track and the individual titles used as chapters, then it would probably make a lot more sense to my ear; and would probably be easier to understand the connection. But no connection is stated, so I'm still lost and still wondering why they correlate. Eastern Era ends great though, picking up with a new progression from the previous repeating melodies.

New Canaan was good. I liked the use sax in it; however, overall, didn't get powerful enough for me. Although, Stasis and Where the Spirits Tread have some great dramatic parts. Definitely one of the highlights to look forward to in the middle/end of the album.

Dead Weight was a good relief from the slower drumming. It's more active than the other songs, rhythmically-speaking. I also like the xylophone parts in it. Subtlety makes everything. I also like the transition to those guitar chords around the 4:30 mark.

Drying Mouths has it's interesting parts as well, I like the abrupt, yet smooth drum transition into what sounds like a possible chorus due to melody change taking place around 1:00. After that, it begins to pick up and everything seems to keep rising towards climax, only to go soft shortly, then hits you with the end. Great track.

The last song, Providence, starts with a motif to the first song, In Session, giving it a 'book end effect,' which I liked. I felt like things were to be summed up. However, the melodies weren't repeated or related like tracks 2-4 were, and led to more varying passages instead. It was a good song to leave you off at.

Overall, the album isn't too bad, but I wasn't completely captivated by the music. It's dark and gloomy, which fits great and really does it's job, but it just seems like there should be more change within it to mix things up a bit. The tempos, keys and time signatures seem too familiar between each song, and the drumming is often alike. It seems like it needs more taste thrown into it. The vocals aren't bad, but again, too familiar between each song. If you're not paying the closest of attention to it, then by the end, it's difficult to remember which songs you were attracted to and which songs you weren't. It all meshes a bit too much together. These tracks would be great for your .mp3 player's Shuffle feature, but it's difficult to listen straight through the whole album and really adore it. Considering the ups and downs, it's a good album, but definitely not a favorite for me; nor my favorite album from Callisto themselves.

 Providence by CALLISTO album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.56 | 17 ratings

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Providence
Callisto Experimental/Post Metal

Review by siko237

3 stars Before listening to Callisto I had only listened to Post Metal's 'Big Four', them being Isis, Neurosis, Pelican, and Cult of Luna. I have been an avid fan of the Post Rock genre and i thought i'd give it's heavier side a listen through Isis' Panopticon and it didn't disappoint to say the least. Then I listened to Callisto's Noir and BAM! amazing album!! they floated through heavy brutal riffs to extremely mellow passages seamlessly and even had a touch of avant garde with the sax and all... However, I think this new album is a step back for the band....the album fails to pick up from where they left off at Noir... they've grown much tamer, much less engaging in my point of view. It is a solid effort no doubt about it, but it doesn't have that same energy and experimentation, and in my point of view only picks up at the end with the last three tracks which show a bit of what made me really get into this band... It's a good listen, but just good... 2.5 stars rounded to three...
 Noir by CALLISTO album cover Studio Album, 2006
4.19 | 25 ratings

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Noir
Callisto Experimental/Post Metal

Review by Dim
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Callisto is a a Finnish five piece playing a mix of post, and AvantGarde metal, and I gotta say that they are pretty good at what they do. Noir, from the first couple of notes, gives an eerie dark atmosphere, not like Cult of Luna's, which is more aggressive, more post rocky, but kind of like a less straight forward Maudlin of the Well, Incorporating delayed guitars, horns, and not-so-metal drumming to make a great eclectic post metal album. Not only that, but their lyrics are laced with Christian themes giving them a lyrical edge over pretty much all post metal (considering half of the genre is lyrical, and the other half attempting Yes lyrics).

The music is basically dominated by guitars, with keyboards in the background most of the time. As the songs progress, Arpeggios build into crushing power chords, simple beats turn into thundering fills , and some incredible growling comes in. The singers voice is under mixed a lot of the time, which is sad considering his grunts are intense, and really help the climaxes get that edge. After the climax, the songs will usually die down to some weird state of keyboard samples, and background guitars, and finally build up to another epic climax.

My favorite track on Noir is the Fugitive, the most emotional and powerful, placed conveniently after the more chilled out track Latter day saints. I recommend anyone into Avant Garde metal or post metal this album, it's so close to being a five star album, it's almost unfair. 4

 True Nature Unfolds by CALLISTO album cover Studio Album, 2004
3.60 | 17 ratings

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True Nature Unfolds
Callisto Experimental/Post Metal

Review by Zodiak

4 stars Just a short review: this album is essential for all the post-metal/sludge/doom/prog-metal fans, who enjoy bands like Isis, Cult Of Luna, Neurosis, Pelican and so on. There's actually very few bands (in comparison to other genres) who play this kind of music, and it's a good thing, because you should definitely check all of them out.

But this is a very good album on its own, so even if you're new to the genre, don't think twice before buying it. It's not extreme in any way (I mean, there's nothing that puts you off instantly, like blast-beats, heavy growls, 250 tempos), so most people will be able to appreciate it, yet, of course, it is a post-metal prog "whatever" album. What I meant by saying it's not extreme is simply that Callisto's music, while being really intelligent and interesting, remains quite accessible (in a non-pop way). You should just sit down, turn all distractions off and indulge. Sure, the music is quite weird, but believe me - you haven't heard anything like this before. It's divine and heavenly.

The music on this album in a nutshell is "basically" (not the right word as it's anything but basic): There's a central theme which slowly develops but rarely changes significantly, which is a very interesting concept, if you're new to this. I know it sounds boring, but try listening to it. It hooks you instantly: that's the magic. It starts slowly, with maybe a riff or a drumming pattern and then little-by-little, all the pieces get added to the flow, and then everything collapses on you with heavy distorted riffing, harsh vocals, then it goes back.

Songs maystart out with a heavy doom-ish riff coupled with some harsh vocal (it's neither really a scream not a growl; as I said, nothing extreme and it sounds appropriate to the music...), then goes into a melancholic melodic section, then back and so on. Again, sounds boring, but give it a try and you'll see how great it really is.

Basically, a long song kind of develops throughout the track, if you know what I mean. It's not so much separate sections, as in most prog and prog-metal, but a continuation and a development of one central theme.

Though some songs (especially on this album) have a standard kind-of intro-verse structure, yet it's still very original. Songs may have and generally do have several really beautiful sections, but that's the point, the overall feeling rarely changes significantly! I think that's great. Some prog just dashes from one section to another, and most of them are poorly if at all connected between each other.

Post-metal takes something, twists and changes and adds to it, but you still kind of feel the overall concept. So all the 9 minute songs really do flow effortlessly, unlike some self-indulgent prog. There's just not a point within a song where you can say, "Ok, this is too much. Next!". It's a more or less solid piece.

But I don't really know how else to describe this kind of music. When I discovered the genre, it seemed weird, a bit monotonous and kinda boring, but it took only a couple of listens (or, rather, one PROPER listen) to really appreciate the magic here. Sure, you need to be in the right mood to really enjoy this, but when the mood does strike, there's no substitute.

It's prog in a sense that it's "weird" (in a good way) and original, not in the complexity of the music. That's the key: there's none of that. Any more of less adequate guitarist will be able to play post-metal, but that's the point: to PLAY, but not to COMPOSE. This really is the key to understanding why Isis, Callisto and all the other post-metal bands are here, while being anything but your typical prog. They are prog in compositional terms, not in technical. There's no sweep picking and very few speed passages. Sometimes there's just a 3 note melody, but for God's sake - it's a godly melody, and I might be a bit excited, but with all due respect, Petrucci and Co. will never be able to compose any of this (same as Callisto will never be able and will never want to compose DT stuff). I just wanted to give you an understandable description of the genre.

This music is truly ATMOSPHERIC and enjoyable without being self-indulgent and daunting, like a lot of prog sadly is.

Ok, so basically my review is both a review of this album and short introduction to the genre, which I feel is required seeing how obscure it is even by ProgArchives standards (no reviews of this milestone album).

The album is highly recommended and is definitely a masterpiece of the genre (not of all prog, of course). In some ways it's much better than Isis, to be very honest. It's also more "direct" than Isis' latest album and much more "European" with lots of minor/dissonance harmonies. The song "Cold Stare" features a really cool and doom-ish sax solo. That ought to make you want to listen to the album, if anything. My policy is not to write a track-by-track review, because we have an ALBUM here, and it's not pop-music. You should consider this an ALBUM, a solid piece, rather than a collection of tracks. Sure, the tracks do differ, and it's anything but a concept album, but still... This is mostly atmospheric kind-of music, so it flows and develops nicely (both within the tracks and within the album).

This isn't a 5 star album, because it just isn't by the standards of this website. It's a very "special" kind of music even for prog-fans and so it's not gonna become something like The Dark Side Of The Moon or any other prog masterpiece. And it doesn't compare to them. It's just very different.

Yet I am going to give this album 4 stars (technically it's more like 4.5 but I can't give it 4). Of all the post-metal I have listened to, this is one of the best and one of the most original works. Sure, it has its flaws, but that's what makes it so good. Post-metal bands do tend to follow a strict kind of pattern, created by Neurosis and then Isis, but I feel "True Nature Unfolds" is a strong effort because it manages to be all that post-metal and atmospheric doom is, while still being kind of raw and, well, metal. Their sophomore album "Noir" is a bit more atmospherically, so give this a try. It's heavy enough to make you, well, \m/, yet it really is interesting enough for prog-fans.

Regardless if you're a fan of Isis, Neurosis or Cult Of Luna or other similar bands, or a person who accidentally stumbled upon this page, give this album a good try, if you enjoy truly touching music. I guarantee you are going to be impressed. Maybe not become a fan, but at least say, "Wow, this IS cool". Besides, it's so rare and underground even by prog standards (bar Isis, who are becoming kind of big), so you're gonna be some sort of pioneer.

A very, very enjoyable 4.5 star album recommended for everyone because it's a great representative of one of the most original metal and prog genres ever.

Thanks to TheProgtologist for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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