Candiria "What Doesn't Kill You Will Only Make You Stronger" CD
[Type A]
It's been a few years since Candiria's last studio outing, but not only do they have every right to have taken all that time to get this out (after all, their infamous van accident nearly ended the band), it has in fact been well worth the fucking wait, as I find this to be Candiria's best work in many years, if not their best work period. I still hold a soft spot in my heart for their early demos days, back when they had more of a death metal thing going on, but "What Doesn't Kill You..." is probably the most focused and streamlined recording of their career to date, without shedding the overall style that the band has delivered time and time again. The songs are largely driven by their token staccato rhythms and unusual timing sensibilities, with Carley Coma's vocals functioning largely in the raspy shouted vein (as opposed to getting into deeper growls) with a few forays into more of a hip-hop infused flow. And there are still some unusual influences coming into play through droning guitar textures or prominent bass breaks, powerful drumming with slick fills... there's plenty happening. But take a track like "The Nameless King", which is far more melodic and straightforward than anything they've done, going so far as to include some slightly gruff singing vocals that actually work incredibly well in my opinion. "Remove Yourself" is similarly melodic, a bit more laidback at times, easing up on the distortion at the start and layering lots of singing vocals into the background with a catchy chorus and basic a framework. Nu-metal? An attempt at achieving stronger commercial success? I'm sure there are those out there who will cast such stones. I disagree, however. Because the bottom line is songwriting. These types of compositions are certainly not the Candiria standard, but they are fucking great pieces of work, so for the band to jump in headfirst and land safely... well, it proves their versatility all the more. And even in these slightly more palatable areas they're not keeping things too easy, there are still lots of layers and quirks adding to the material. "Down" is the weakest link in the melodic side of the record. It's still a decent song, I can listen to it, but it's not as comfortable... perhaps because it flirts with different guitar effects and a lead break? It's a little quirkier, and something about it doesn't click with me. I wasn't sure whether or not there would be a hip-hop styled track, but thankfully there is: "9mm Solution". I've actually tended to be a big fan of Candiria's excursions into this style, and this track is no different. I enjoy the way the subtle guitars and looped bassline fit against the piano dabbling and beat structure, etc. Some of the guest vocalists in the track have the whole Jamaican thing going on, and I really hate that whole sound, but I can deal with it here because the music and verses make up for it. There's a great blend of the old Candiria and the new in "I Am", at times layering excellent acoustic guitars and electric guitars, using singing vocals with aggressive rap styles, tons of chunky rhythms, etc. "Vacant", then, has a classic Candiria meets Mr. Bungle sort of thing going on, spinning through lots of changes and the use of some additional percussion and horns. The added percussion comes back in along with lots of keyboards and added textures in the closing instrumental, "The Rutherford Experiment", which is the only place on the disc where the band's jazzier side really blatantly surfaces - keyboard solos, funky guitars, prog-ish undertones, the works. Production? It's fine. Damn good. My only initial reaction was that I'd love to hear the basslines play a more dominant role throughout. You can always hear them, and they're given the spotlight on several occasions, but the dude's too damn good to take a slight backseat so often. Everything else sounds totally clear and full. I like the drum sound a whole lot, the guitars aren't overly heavy but definitely pack some density, and you can really hear the character of the aggressive vocals. I don't think I'd really change anything other than pumping a little more bass guitar in there. The layout includes plentiful photos of the band's obliterated van after their disastrous accident in September of 2002, as well as a few photos of the band posing with equally demolished instruments. Everything looks totally consistent and the lyrics are arranged nicely with brief explanations hinting at deeper meaning to the tracks. A number of the songs deal with taking control and doing whatever it takes to reach your goals or get your life in order, but regardless there's a certain tone of bitterness to the actual phrasing: "Blood runs through my veins. This is war for dying man. All or nothing is to gain. Fearless! Strike you down where I stand so I can spit in your face. Lay in your coffin so I can spit on your grave. Drown in your urine like you were thirsting for rain. So give it up. All hope is lost. Raise it up. My gain is your loss. So open wide. Inhale your downfall. I m judgment day." Excellent work overall. Definitely my favorite of the band's full-lengths. The compact running time and precise sense of direction makes a huge difference. Longtime fans will have some new tastes to adjust to, but there are still plenty of rock solid songs representing the band's central style - "Dead Bury the Dead", "Blood", "1,000 Points of Light", etc. Definitely worth checking out. (8/10)
Running time - 36:27, Tracks: 10
[Notable tracks: The Nameless King, Remove Yourself, 1,000 Points of Light, I Am]
Candiria - http://www.candiriamusic.com

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