Well, Frontiers Music Srl, opened the female fronted metal season with their January 21st release of the Kandia’s Quaternary. Kandia started in November of 2007, from Portugal, with founder and lead singer Nya Campos Cruz and guitarist André Da Cruz. They chose the name, Kandia, which means to obfuscate, to blind by light. They agreed it would “represent the positivity they wanted to radiate”.
“Kandia has released two full length albums thus far, both produced by Daniel Cardoso (Anathema), and one EP. Kandia is also one of the first bands signed through the Frontiers & Beyond initiative, which was launched by the label with the intent to sign bands who will be part of the next generation of hard rock and metal”.
“Anthropocene”, has a beautiful piano opening before drums and strings are added. Atmospherics surround the soundscape and build a cinematic – like symphonic experience…
Before the heavy metal charges forward at the beginning of “Obliterate”. Then, Nya Campos Cruz’s first vocals. “How long will those dreams keep the poison from our dreams? React, we have to realize it’s us against the world. Every step we take is detrimental”. She has a beautiful and powerful voice, but I cannot compare her to anyone. Unique and full of energy. Powerful lead electric guitar riffs and beautiful keyboards, with drumming that makes this one of the best songs on the album.
“The Flood”, may be the second-best song on the album. The video supporting it is amazing. Nya Campos Cruz sings, “A lifetime ago when all was pure and untouched. The air was light and you could feel connected. And life was never rushed. We’ve lost all control, everything’s withering. Dangerously, rapidly declining”. A warning of climate change is accentuated by powerful growling electric guitar soloing. Cruz sings, “It seems like the flood is coming. And we’re not gonna make it. How long, how long. ’til it gets here!”
“Fight Or Flight”, is another powerful statement about prejudice and hate. Cruz sings, “I wish I could restart. Turn a lot into nothing. But I can’t shut down this voice. If I could just rejoice. For once I’d feel like I have a choice. And I struggle to find and shut the voice inside my head. Cold sweats and blood rush. Deplete my resistance. Finding no escape. How long til I break? Exhausted minds: how not to feel divided. Exhausted minds: how not to be blindsided”. She even tries some rough vocals to truly bring home the point. The guitar soloing and drums are excellent!
“Until The End”, is another protest song; this time against narcissistic lovers, as Cruz sings, “Who always think they are better than all the others”. Yeah, power guitars and good beats on the drums. A powerful rocker full of angst.
“Turn Of The Tide”, is another power driver full of awesome guitar and drums. Cruz sings, “Today, will you be a slave? Where’s your liberty? Engage! Amoral leaders heed. We are waking up. We’ve planted the seed. We will not be. Silenced! We don’t wanna be loved. We just wanna be understood. And you may try to break us and shame us. But you will never tame us!” Amen. One of the best anthems on the album.
“PBP”, is another heavy rocker, full of edgy guitars and drums. In this song, the predator become the pray. Heavy rough vocals blister the speakers as the warning gets louder.
“Deathwish”, steps up the fire a notch, or maybe more. Cruz sings, “You say I’m your sacred ground. Tell me why, oh why, do you, keep on desecrating me? You say I can keep you safe and sound. Misery loves a good company. How bad would it be if it came to see? That you and me we’re meant to be. Is this, is this your death wish, is it, is it?” Powerful lyrics, set to hammering guitars and drums helps the smoke rise higher.
“Murderers”, is another heavy metal blaster featuring: Jørgen Munkeby, of the Norwegian jazz and heavy metal band Shinning. His sax solo really lifts this entire production.
On “A New Dawn”, Cruz sings about freedom and “The truth will come to light. A new dawn will come. And this is how the chain breaks!” That punching drum attack is cool. The guitar solos are simply magnificent. A great anthem.
“Holocene”, is a quieter song for the closer. It is a very deep song, lyrically. It asks us to ponder what we have become, and more importantly, what will we leave behind. It is set to a clock – like beat, bringing the album title, Quaternary, and its meaning to fruition. “The 2.6 million years of the Quaternary represents the time during which recognizable humans existed”, “The Holocene corresponds with the rapid proliferation, growth and impacts of the human species worldwide, including all of its written history, technological revolutions, development of major civilizations, and overall significant transition towards urban living in the present”. Yeah…that kind of depth. Thanks Wikipedia. Background orchestration and keyboard sounds fill the air, for the best track on the album. Cruz sings, “And just like clockwork, we live. Piece by piece, the green house turned to grey. Is this what we are?” Definitely, they did a great job closing this album with some serious food for thought.
This is an excellent start to the new release season for female metal. I really enjoyed this album. All of the songs have some quality to admire. They are mostly hard and metal, but songs like “Holocene”, and “The Flood”, really display the maximum talent this band can achieve. Amazing start to the female metal progressive year., Thanks Kandia for lighting a blaze. Now let’s hear what comes next! I’m in! Gonna keep an eye on you Kandia…you set a high bar!
Track List:
1. Anthropocene – 1:02
2. Obliterate – 4:08
3. The Flood – 3:46
4. Fight Or Flight – 3:37
5. Until The End – 4:18
6. Turn Of The Tide – 4:43
7. PBP – 4:51
8. Deathwish – 3:52
9. Murderers – Featuring: Jorgen Munkeby – 5:19
10. A New Dawn – 3:18
11. Holocene – 5:39
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