Iotunn - Kinship

Iotunn is a progressive metal band from Denmark, who formed in 2015.  Their latest release, “Kinship” is their second full-length album; they have also released an EP and a split.

Though their name has come across to be a few times, I’ve never actually heard their music until I received the promo for this album…and I’m so glad I did get it because “Kinship” is a mesmerizing album with so many good ideas in it, I could write a full review for each song.  

I used to be a big fan of progressive metal, and I still am I suppose, but I’ve been pulled away from the genre over the years because so many of the bands really aren’t that intense, heavy, or adventurous. Thankfully, Iotunn’s “Kinship” is all these things plus they have a firm grasp on prog.  Truly, they meld prog and metal into one, refusing to sacrifice one style over the other.

Their vocal approach enthralls me too and before the promo, I never realized Jón Aldará is their vocalist; he also fronts Barren Earth and Hamferð as well.  With Iotunn, his cleans reach for the stars—this dude has powerful lungs and world class technique.  Thankfully, he doesn’t ignore his extreme voice either as he provides that element across “Kinship” as well.  

The flow of the album and the track list placement is also of note.  The album consists of 8 songs across a runtime of over an hour; that might seem long to some but it’s prog so what do you expect?  That hour also passes by very fast.  The two longest songs bookend the album, which is a wonderful idea as it keeps listener fatigue down while also providing a gripping introduction and epic ending. 

Overall, their style is bombastic but it’s not chaotic and too “in your face.”  As with any good progressive band, the details unfold in a natural way and multiple listens are needed to fully grasp everything.  With that being said, there isn’t anything here pretentious or too flashy—you don’t have to be a prog snob or a mathematical genius to enjoy this. 

Melodic death is a big part of their concoction but it has elements of just about every style you can think of.  There isn’t one genre that takes over the other–a true melting pot.

The album opens with “Kinship Elegiac,” a nearly 14 minute banger.  By the end of this song, you’ll be a fan of the band and will not want to turn the album off.  If you do, you’ll just not cool.  Sorry, not sorry.

The opening is clean tones and gentle vocals but the energy is undeniable and it can be felt building up as the second tick by.  At the 2:06 mark, the band arrives in full with a blanket of thick riffs and melancholy.  This part of the song represents yet another reason why I’m so impressed with the albums…..they have a ton of darker elements to their music.  How many prog bands really dive into melancholic and sorrowful tones?   They need to take notes because this song nails those elements without being too depressing.

The song soon settles into a groove with Jón singing his ass off.  His vocals reach for the skies, grab the very atmosphere and pull it down.  The band rips through that atmosphere with vicious drums and guitars that run through styles while maintaining cohesiveness to the song.  

The halfway point finds the band taking a melodic blackened path, complete with somewhat spacey textures (reminiscent of Arcturus) and extreme vocals.  The bass really slaps here too, going above and beyond with its own textures. The guitar solo near the end is off the charts, a sterling combination of emotion and technical prowess.  

“Twilight”  is a towering song with just a few seconds.  The opening is wide, giving birth to fast paced melodies and rhythm to take a run.  The spoken word vocals add a theatrical feel to the music.  The music finds a catchy beat and rides out just long enough for the rage to grasp hold but not so tight that it doesn’t let the song grow.  The vocals switch from growls to cleans so effortlessly and the instrumental parts compliment it with ease.  The middle part drops the tempo slightly, setting up the song for a rousing guitar solo and a killer melodic death passage. 

“The Coming End, “ is such a fantastic song, one of my favorites on the album.  Its scope is huge—a massive all of sound with such incredible detail.  As I listen, I can enjoy the song as it washes over me, enveloping me within its many tendrils.  I can also pick out each performance and enjoy the song differently each time.  The drums and bass give the song a special sort of energy.  The guitar solo is another personal favorite moment for me–such drive and passion!  The ending riffs are catchy and lead the band into ending the song on an intense note just before it trails off with spacey textures.

“Earth To Sky,” is another hugely impressive song that I can’t get another one.  The extreme vocals are vicious but the music that lifts them up is just as potent.  This one is a burner, churning like a river wild.  The clean vocal parts are catchy with equally catchy music swirling together, leading back into the death metal parts.  The melodic passage around the middle part of the song is majestic and transitions back to the heavier parts very well.

The final song, “The Anguished Ethereal,” ends the album in the only possible way. This just had to be the final song, there exists the atmosphere of finality and facing the inevitable end.  The music is melody and dark tones, maybe I could even call this progressive Gothic.  Both vocal styles are fully represented here and provide their all.  The music is both sweltering and claustrophobic in places but never too far buried that it can’t change moods when needed.  

Iotunn’s “Kinship” is one of those albums that is so well written that it can pull non-proggers into its fold—and keep them there; with its many textures and layered nuances, there is a lot to dive into and a thousand million reasons to keep going back under.