Reviews

KAIRA..'CHILD OF FIRE',

(Irond) Reviewed 17th September 2009

This is the Russian band's fourth album, but every one has been done in a different style. For this one they describe their music as ‘Symphonic-Industrial-Sex-Metal’, I would describe it as Nightwish having a punch-up with some Cossacks in an Ibiza nightclub. The striking singer Kaira has a deep, rich, dramatic voice, a cross between Grace Jones and Miss Whiplash. The fact that she sings in Russian only adds to the drama. Every song is a non stop barrage of head banging riffs, throbbing synths, and horror strings. One song, whose title in English I can’t mention because this is a family show, makes Je T'aime sound like the Nolan Sisters. I bought it on import from EBay, but it is gradually being released around the globe, Life Burns (England), Tetragram Records (USA), This Sick Productions (Australia), etc. Good grief, this is an exciting, monster of a record, not for the faint hearted. I’m off for a lie down. 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

KAMILLA..'NOTHING'S LEFT'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 12th May 2008

Kamilla fronted by a young lass called Sarah, sure are an awesome gothic/hard rock band from North Dakota, and this album is certainly worth checking out. I have to thank Molly of Rott for the recommendation. Basically, we have here 9 tracks of melodic hard rock with a subtle gothy undercurrent. I like this little gem, with the title track together with 'Back Here Again' the stand out tracks to my ears, although they are all good! Some superb guitar work on this cd I hasten to add aswell (nice one Aubrey). 'Nothing's Left' can be purchased from cdbaby.com..so buy it and support independent female fronted metal. These girls (and guy) deserve it!! 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

KANDIA..'INWARD BEAUTY, OUTWARD REFLECTION'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 3rd May 2010

In November 2007 a new rock band was born. After releasing an EP in 2008, May 2009 saw Kandia enter the recording studio. The result is this, their first full length release, that is influenced by music from A Perfect Circle, Tool, Him and Charon to name just four. Now then, if you like your music extremely melodic but powerful, with doses of metal added to the mix, this album will sure turn your insides out. Kandia in-fact hail from Portugal, and have given us one helluva album that deserves to take on the world and win! Fronted by Nya, 'Inward Beauty, Outward Reflection' sure has taken my breath away. After a brief instrumental intro, the opening salvo of 'Paranoia' and 'Into Your Hands' gives us an idea as to what to expect, as both songs fire their way out of the speakers. Awesome stuff! Hard, heavy, loud and melodic. 'Inwards' is a slower but equally heavy track...great piano intro to this excellent song. There are highlights galore on this album, which even features JP Leppaluoto from the aforementioned Gothic Finnish Band Charon, sharing lead vocals with Nya on the track 'Reflections'. This is one of the best independent releases I have heard in a long time with an amazing production to boot. Without a shadow of a doubt, this band deserves to be big outside of it's native Portugal. Check out www.myspace.com/kandiamusic to make your own minds up but to me, this is totally amazing stuff and worthy of a 9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

KARMIC LINK.. 'RATHER DARKNESS VISIBLE'

(Thundering Records) Reviewed 10th February 2010

This is the brainchild of keys maestro and producer Stathis Kassios, with the sultry Mina G on vocals, in a style that recalls Charlotte Wessels of Delain. She has her own band, The Rain I Bleed, whose progress I am following with much interest. Musically, it can perhaps be best described is a hybrid of Delain and Sonata Arctica, indeed Jani Liimatainen of Sonata Arctica appears as a guest guitarist. The music ranges from the more gothic, such as ‘Still Here’, to the more power metallish, ‘Hide the Words’. My personal fave is ‘Weak Being’ with Stathis’s great synth work, but all the songs are really strong, with a subtly sensual, exotically eastern, flavour. They will shortly unleash their second CD, a concept album called ‘Esoterica’, so look out for a review in these pages. This superbly produced and performed debut is highly recommended for Delain and Sonata Arctica fans, and available from their Myspace site www.myspace.com/karmiclink, just click on the big picture of the album to buy this dark diamond . 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

KARMIC LINK..'ESOTERICA'

(Pervade Productions/Manitou Music) Reviewed 22nd May 2010

The second album by keys maestro Staphis Kassios and his two cohorts, Mina G from The Rain I Bleed and new recruit Evan Hensley on guitar sees the band moving away from the Delain esque gothic rock of their debut ‘No Light but Rather Darkness Visible’ towards a darker, more prog metal sound, with elements of power metal. This is a concept album about a news anchor woman who life is changed by strange phenomena that makes her face up to where modern society is heading and the power that the media and technology are imposing on the world. The best tunes have a touch of Ayreon about them, like ‘Whispers on a Breeze’ and ‘Still’. There are also some really good power metallish tracks like ‘Cold’, ‘Esoterica’, and ‘A Tattered Canvas’. The use of a drum machine encourages a touch of over indulgence with the buttons, and I am not a great fan of the shotgun snare sound. The mix is also rather guitar heavy, making the lyrics, which are so important in a concept piece, hard to hear at times. This will appeal to Dream Theatre, Ayreon and Anthropia fans, especially those like their prog metal at the more melodic end of the spectrum. Available from their Myspace www.myspace.com/karmiclink and other stores, 8/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

KARNATAKA.. 'THE GATHERING LIGHT'

(Immrama Records) Reviewed 4th February 2010

It’s been a long wait for Karnataka fans since the wonderful ‘Delicate Flame of Desire’ back in 2003. Since then the various members have gone on to form the excellent Reasoning and Panic Room, leaving the lynchpin Ian Jones to carry the torch, and this is the first album with the new line-up. Old fans will be wondering whether there have been any changes. Well, the key ingredients are still there, take a goodly portion of Yes/Jon Anderson and put it into a pot, add some Clannad, Renaissance, Pink Floyd and Pendragon, and simmer for 60 minutes. However, there are two interrelated factors that have changed, the songs are now twice as long as before because of the long instrumental passages, and I must emphasise the word instrumental, NOT flash soloing. In fact if you add the opening two instrumentals to the instrumental passages in other songs, especially ‘Forsaken’, then over half the album is instrumental. This is a brave, bold move, but it is in keeping with today’s prog bands who are looking towards longer song structures, for example Porcupine Tree, Transatlantic, and the Mars Volta. The album opens with Troy Donockley’s plaintive uillean pipes, he will be very familiar to Nightwish and Mostly Autumn fans. Listening to the second track, the instrumental ‘State of Grace’, it will come as no surprise that keyboarder Gonzalo Carrera has played with various Yes tribute bands, especially when you hear his climbing crescendos. ‘Your World’ shows that Lisa Fury, with her crystal clear voice, has done an admirable job of taking over the baton from Rachel Jones on this Pink Floydish mid tempo number, powered along by Ian’s funky bass. ‘Moment in Time’ is a lovely Renaissance style song, and Lisa’s voice reminds me of Annie Haslam, with a superb string arrangement and Enrico Pinna’s Dave Gilmour style guitar solo. ‘The Serpent and the Sea’ is similar to Jon Anderson’s Yes, then ‘Forsaken’ has a delicate piano and strings first section, before the band cuts in for a long instrumental passage, showcasing Ian Harris’s skilful drumming, and Enrico’s guitar work brings to mind the great Nick Barrett of Pendragon. ‘Tide to Fall’ is my favourite track, an up-tempo powerful song very much in the vein of the old Karnataka, and the album ends with the epic ‘The Gathering Light’, which begins with Troy’s yearning pipes as the mist rolls down the glens, then drums thunder as the song opens out to reveal the band at their most soaring and Celtic. Some people will say that some of the songs outstay their welcome, and that a bit of judicious pruning would not go amiss, but this album is a massive grower, each listen revealing fresh nuances. This is prog with the emphasis on melody and mood rather than technical flash, and a must buy for melodic prog fans, old and new, indeed anyone who likes their classic rock a little bit adventurous. Available from all the usual outlets and their webshop at http://www.karnataka.netmx.co.uk/index.html . 9/10 (Reviewed by Phil)

KATBGINI..'DEMON WITHIN'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 12th Oct 2007

Katbgini is fronted by Karen Howarth. And her partner in crime with this project, is Carl S Hamilton. 'Demon Within' takes me back to the hazy days of the 70's, being a tasty morsal of 70's style hard rock. But that is not quite all. Because there is a gothic undercurrent running through the music, with Kat's vocals at times taking on a sexy gothic vampire feel. The cd kicks into action with the title track, and immediately, the 70's vibe hits you! And if you want guitar solos, they are here, with Carl plying his trade, and he plies it well. It seems the young and talented Carl plays everything on this cd too. 'Black Wolf' and 'We'll Do It Your Way' carry on the strong start to the cd, with Kat's vocals ripping into these songs. The gothy 'Myths Of Aggression', 'Vampire's Supper' and The Awesome 'The Awakening' slow things down a bit, and I actually like the slower gothy vibe to these songs too. And Kat's vocals...wow! 'Evil Eyes' ups the tempo, while 'Accept Your Master' rocks ala 70's again! I quite like the 'scary vocals' here. Listen through headphones loud, to see what I mean! 'Rage' is the last offering on the cd, a live track clocking in at around 7 mins. Summarising, Kat and Carl have released a hell of a collection of songs. Indeed, Katbgini are yet another unsigned act worthy of your attention. And they tour here with Italian act Macbeth next year (see our tour dates page). 8/10 (Reviewed by Dave).

KATRA..'BEAST WITHIN'

(Napalm Records) Reviewed 8th August 2008

Finnish metal-act Katra was founded in summer 2006, when the bands vocalist Katra Solopuro gathered a group of top drawer musicians around her.Things evolved quickly, and by autumn their first single Sahara took off and got a fair share of radio air time. In the spring 2007, Katra's self titled debut album (sung in her native tongue) was released and Katra toured around Finland. At the same time the band got to take some time to write new material, and more good news was to follow when Napalm Records announced they would like to release worldwide an English edition of Katra's album. And what an awesome album we have here from Katra. This is what I would call symphonic rock and metal not too disimilar to Nightwish in parts I suppose. Well, Katra is from Finland. There are some awfully catchy tunes here, and they kick ass too. Faves...just too many to check out, but try 'Grail Of Sahara', 'Beast Within', 'Fade To Gray', 'Swear' and the ballad 'Promise Me Everything'. Perhaps I shall make a suggestion, just buy and check out the whole album when it gets released here in Europe on 1st September (USA 9th Sept), as every track here is a gem. This will most certainly appeal to many fans of our beloved genre. I love it, and if I love it, then you should buy it! Enough said!! 9/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

KATRA..'OUT OF THE ASHES'

(Napalm Records) Reviewed 5th October 2010

Katra's debut English language offering 'Beast Within', caused quite a stir here at Ravenheart Music, and I am very pleased to report that the follow up by this lass from Finland is doing just the same. The "if it ain't broken, why fix it" policy applies here, and what we have is a tasty morsel of 10 Pop/Metal songs. Indeed, 'Out of the Ashes' is the third album under the name KATRA (the debut was in her native tongue), but actually the first album from KATRA as a full band unit. The current line-up is experienced in metal and music on the whole and has it's own sound which combines metal riffs, with more rock and straight forward parts. Lyrics are also stronger than before dealing with matters of real human life rather than fairytales. The songs on offer are damn fine efforts I must say, from the awesome chorus of the opener, 'Delirium', the swaying 'If There Is No Tomorrow' (this would go down well live), the heavier but rather catchy 'Vendetta', the metallic title track with yet another awesome chorus and the Power Ballad 'Envy'. The accoustic based 'The End Of The Scene' that builds to a crescendo is another good un, plus the closer 'Hide and Seek', which so happens to be my fave on the cd. But I should really say that every track on this little opus is a winner, and this cd will be a regular visitor to my death deck. I liked 'Beast Within' very much and 'Out Of The Ashes' now confirms Katra as a real force within our genre, and yet another winner from the House of Napalm. Great stuff..9.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)

KATHY BEN HAROUSH..'KARMA NOIR'

(Independent Release) Reviewed 20th May 2009

Israel is not known as the hotbed of gothic rock or metal, but it seems that 34 year old Kathy Ben Haroush from Tel Aviv is set to change all that. Kathy's musical style could be described as a combination of gothic rock, metal and rapcore, mixed with electronic, opera and oriental influences, and this release showcases all that really well. Lets say "Evanescence meets Linkin Park" and that would be roughly the mark. She was elected as the readers choice in the UK by top Rock Magazine 'ALTERNATIVE MAG' – scoring 1st place with the song 'YOU' from this very album! Indeed, over 20,000 readers voted for her! And it is 'You' that kicks this record off. An awesome rock tune similar to Evanescence I suppose, with rap elements too. 'See My Sorrow' follows, and this is another cool track. I have a vibe about this lass, and if given the right backing and support I am sure could create a few waves on the gothic rock/metal scene. 'Voices' has a middle eastern feel without losing the rocky element, while other faves amongst a cluster of good songs are 'Back Then', 'It's OK' and 'Tainted Smile'. Overall, the songs here offer commercial appeal, while 'Karma Noir' proves that Israel is not just a nation that pops up at the Eurovision contest - Kathy means business, and I like it! Get it at cdbaby.com 8.5/10 (Reviewed by Dave)