CD Info

2011

Self Released

11 Tracks

English Lyrics

In recent years, two kinds of female-fronted bands have dominated the Dutch metal scene: symphonic metal bands, and more straightforward rock/metal bands. Cardamon falls into the latter of the two categories. This quintet from Utrecht swooped onto our radar in 2007 with their debut album, The Primrose Path. And, something about Cardamon’s melancholy-charged, semi-progressive style and singer Floortje Donia’s melodious voice captivated our readership. As of press time, The Primrose Path sits at #6 on Sonic Cathedral’s Top 10 Bestsellers list – which must mean that fans have been eagerly awaiting Cardamon’s next stop. That step now has a name: Sun As Never, a heavier collection of melodic alt-metal that doesn’t quite live up to the promise of the band’s debut album.

Fans will immediately notice that Sun As Never is more of metal album than its predecessor. Cardamon chose a stronger electric guitar presence this time, sculpting a gloomier, grittier tone. The solos and soundscapes created by guitarists Koen Romeijn (who is also the frontman of the melodic death metal band Detonation) and Kevin Storm give the impression that Cardamon has put a conscientious effort into evolving their sound. Sun As Never also features more uptempo moments than The Primrose Path. By this, I mean that the new album has a greater proportion of double-kicking, faster rhythms, and tempo changes than just sheer uptempo tracks. It’s as though Cardamon has learned the same lesson that Stream of Passion had a few years ago: By playing more gigs, the band has figured out what works in a live setting and what doesn’t.

The effects of that lesson can be heard as soon as Sun As Never begins. "Away From The Light" leaps out at the listener with cascading guitars contrasting with Donia’s laments. It’s more powerful than anything Cardamon has done before. At the same time, it maintains some of the band’s signature elements (a slow tempo, plaintive lyrics, and Donia’s harmonies) to give fans a comfortable reminder of who they’re listening to. "Amaze Yourself (Sun As Never)" and "Down Alone" are good examples of Cardamon’s more urgent side. "Down Alone" in particular features the album’s catchiest chorus over coarse riffs and rollicking rhythms.

Sun As Never continues down this forceful yet melodic road until the end. "Masterminds" winds and runs through a sinister darkness while telling a tale of invincibility and learning from one’s mistakes. Conversely, "Wide Eyes" alternates between delicate and full-out rock as the lyrics tell a sobering story throughout: "You carry days like crosses and you never say a word / ‘Cause we’re no longer living in another world."

And hidden in the shade and shadows of Sun As Never is a pearl of a ballad, "Spanning the Distance." Though Donia isn’t a highly skilled vocalist, she stirs an eddy of emotions with her sincere articulation of this track’s lyrics: "No words can span the distance / Between you and I / This hurt proves my existence / But its meaning I’ll deny." This anguish is further augmented by the music’s balance of quiet and heavy arrangements.

Unfortunately, that’s as inspiring as Sun As Never gets. After repeated listens to this album, only half of the songs engrave themselves into one’s heart or memory. The remaining half fall victim to the "press ‘skip’" syndrome. Some of these less memorable tracks contain awkward elements (such as the clumsy verse melodies in "All You Were Meant To Be," and the disjointed rhythms in "Divided") that make it difficult to enjoy the songs. Other songs are like a movie or a book that you force yourself to finish; they’re just not that interesting, especially when compared to Primrose Path classics such as "When Space And Time Collide" and "Sleepless World." In fact, Sun As Never as a whole lacks the charm of The Primrose Path. Part of that may be due to Sun’s poor sound quality. I haven’t figured out if it’s the final mix or the bit rate of each song file (only 192 kbps). Either way, a murky final sound can extinguish an album’s spark – and that’s a blunder an up-and-coming band such as Cardamon can’t afford to make.

Thus, Sun As Never is bound to leave Cardamon’s fans with mixed emotions. Its inconsistencies in songwriting and execution are too noticeable to ignore or forget. Some listeners will forgive the mistakes; others, like myself, will find themselves dissatisfied with the final product after repeated spins. However, one strength saves Sun As Never in a small way: Cardamon has a clear idea for their new musical direction. The growth in Storm and Romeijn’s guitarwork adds depth to Cardamon’s music and enhances the moods that the band is known for creating. And, we know that Cardamon hasn’t forgotten how to write good songs, because the best songs on Sun As Never are really good. Perhaps the band should have spent more time ensuring that every aspect of the album –not just the guitar techniques – was as strong as it could be. That way, Sun As Never would shine instead of flicker.

7.5 / 10

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