K[NINE] – Unleash The Power

Unsigned. Unsigned! Unsigned???

Life just isn’t fair. You insert a disc, you read the bio (available on-line), and you wonder: Why are so many mediocre Metal bands pushed and promoted, and this gem remains lying in the ashes waiting to be found?

K(nine) is virtually unknown outside of Scandinavia, where they did win a Norwegian music contest. Normally a Metalcore band (and that is roughly where those six rockers belong if you feel the need to categorize their album) would not be bragging about that since it is quite contrary to street credibility. That they do brag about it already sets them apart … and you could dismiss that with the thought they had nothing else to boast about — that is, until you hear Unleash The Power!

Their influences, they say, are Pantera, Korn, Fear Factory, Machine Head, and Hatebreed. So far, so normal. But then: Metallica; Alice In Chains; My Dying Bride. After listening to the album, one could add a few other big names to the list, like Black Sabbath and Life Of Agony. However, they melt it all down to their own kind of Metal alloy!

There are ten songs on the album, plus an intro. “Never Again” impresses with a very melodic chorus, ”Chains” is surprising with its psychedelic parts, ”Stop The Madness” has a cool stop-and-go attitude, and ”Undisputed” rounds out the Metalcore aspects of the album. Those songs alone would deserve a place in your collection, but may fail to impress much further.

The other tracks are what make you listen up … the opener ”All Eyes On You” delivers with a “River Runs Red” by Life Of Agony feeling, somewhere between jumping and lamenting, with power and melody. Also, the unexpected ”Second Try,” is a Melodic Hardcore song with keyboards. Can you meld the two words Hardcore and Ballad together? K(nine) dares to try! Then there’s “It Was You” — another surprise — an acoustic track! Those guys don’t mind jumping from one style to another, but still keep their ship on a course the listener can follow, except for the track “It Was You.” This song stands out like an onion in a fruit salad, and it attests to the maturity of the musicians that they put it at the end of the album, so the track does not interrupt the power and flow of the other songs.

The secret of their versatility rests in the hands of their two singers, seemingly one for the Hardcore shouting and Death-like growls, and one for the clean parts. They vary the mood and sound of every track nicely. Those two, backed by a relatively good sound and production, plus decent drums and bass background, and two guitarists that make you look up occasionally (there’s some ingenious riffs sprinkled into these tracks), make a winning combination.

Not mentioned so far are three tracks that are very special, even on this extremely diversified album. The best is saved for last. Here are the top three by K(Nine):

Third place goes to the longest song of the album, “False Path, Real Greed.” Very catchy, although this is the only track that probably could still be improved by keeping it a bit shorter … the over two-minute instrumental ending is not absolutely necessary. Is there a genre called Progressive Metalcore? Well, there is now …

Second place to “Raise Your Fists,” which starts as a normal Metalcore song, but then changes into a brilliant chorus with keyboards as background.

The best song on the album is track three, “Living A Lie,” which sounds like a song from Disturbed and would be good on Ten Thousand Fists as well! The definite highlight on a very good album.

K(nine) have started impressingly, and Unleash The Power is proof that they can be a band to watch out for in the coming years. It should only be a matter of time until they get a record contract, and the helping hand of a producer to root out what little shortcomings in songwriting they still have. Until then, it is highly recommended that you check out their very professional Web site where you can find lots of information, tour dates, and .mp3 files … and you can also purchase the album!