Kandia | Inward Beauty / Outward Reflection
by Joe Mix
Staff Writer
Portugal is known for may things, but good metal music isn’t usually at the top of the list. The female fronted band Kandia is out to change that oversight with the release of their debut album Inward Beauty / Outward Reflection. Blending tradtional metal with some progressive and gothic elements, Kandia has put out an impressive rookie effort which will leave the listener not only pleased, but hungry for more.
Formed in late 2007 by the husband and wife team of Andre and Nya Cruz, Kandia is more than another female-fronted metal act. They tried to create a unique sound by melding influences of acts such as Tool, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd and Metallica – and have done an admirable job of finding their own way. Conceived originally as a duo they released their EP entitled Light in late 2008. Encouraged by positive fan response, they entered the studio in 2009 to record their full length debut, and eventually became a four-piece.
The album kicks of strongly with the gritty and intense “Intro / Paranoia.” Nya’s voice is displayed from one end of her range to the other, and her tone runs from soft and smooth to growl-y and powerful. Andre’s guitars also take center stage here, and play off well against the rapid fire drums and gurgling bass. The well written lyrics (Nya is the band’s lyricist, and Andre the composer) carry the mood effectively throughout the song. An intense bass line and great vocals drive “Into Your Hands” and the mix of the song is rife with Gothic / Evanescense-like influences. Well done keyboards and an incredible bass line open the sweeping “Hold On To Me” – the uplifting lyrics and solid vocal performance make this the best track on the release. Heavy guitars totally change the mood for the short and intense “Inwards.” Touches of thrash metal and an interesting drum line make “All I Need To Know” a solid song.
The band is joined by singer J.P. Leppaluoto of Charon for the fascinating love-obsession ballad “Reflections.” The wonderful duet vocals are the high point of the second half of the album. “Y.S.L.E.” features a great chuggy guitar line and a slick chorus, and lyrically provides an insight into the evils of an abusive or obsessive relationship – it almost has a bit of a Pat Benatar feel to it. “Love Me As I Am” is a biting song with a strong message of acceptance. A bit of a bluesy feel shows in the hard rocking “Rise ’09”, lifted from the band’s original EP. A very mysterious and progressive sound fills “Waste My Time,” while the simple pianos and pure vocals of “Old Years” close out the album on a melancholy high.
The engineering and mix of Inward Beauty / Outward Reflection is very good. Everything is clean and crisp, with clear vocals and distinct instrumentation that highlights the technical abilities of the group. The band is very tight, and all the tracks well written both lyrically and musically. If there is a negative here it is that Kandia occasionally sounds a lot like Evanescence – but not in a bad way. Their more uplifting lyrics and variety of musical styles and intensity set them apart from Amy Lee’s crew, and they focus less on the angst/darkness/Gothic elements and more on the positive. Kandia’s music is powerful, melodic, emotional and very introspective.
Fans of Gothic or progressive metal definitely have a new rising star to follow in Kandia. Beyond these genres, anyone who likes strong and powerful vocals will find a lot to appreciate here. If this independent release has somehow slipped under your radar, you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Highly recommended!
Genre: Progressive Metal
Band:
Nya Cruz – Vocals
André Cruz – Guitars
Bernardo Lima – Bass
Daniel Silva – Drums
Guest musician – J.P. Leppaluoto (Charon) – duet vocals on “Reflections”
Track Listing:
1. Intro
2. Paranoia
3. Into Your Hands
4. Hold On To Me
5. Inwards
6. All I Need To Know
7. Reflections
8. Y.S.L.E.
9. Love Me As I Am
10. Rise ’09
11. Waste My Time
12. Old Years (Piano Version)
Website: http://www.kandiamusic.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.7/10