Cardamon - Sun As Never review
| Band: | Cardamon |
| Album: | Sun As Never |
| Style: | Alternative metal, Gothic metal |
| Release date: | November 26, 2011 |
| A review by: | Susan |
01. Away From The Light
02. Down Alone
03. Spanning The Distance
04. All You Were Meant To Be
05. Antithesis
06. Masterminds
07. Deaf Or Blind
08. Walk On By
09. Amaze Yourself (Sun As Never)
10. Wide Eyes
11. Divided [bonus]
Dutch metal/rockers Cardamon present their sophomore release, Sun As Never. Although they have a (skilled) female vocalist, don't make any assumptions. They sit on the Dutch musical landscape much closer to alt-rockers Autumn or to The Gathering than they do to any symphonic metal, and would appeal to fans of male-fronted depressive rock bands as much as to the symphonic metal crowd.
I instantly enjoyed this album and am finding even more enjoyment in getting to know it over time. Some songs are more rock than metal, others more metal than rock, and many are laced with a subtly intense guitar, luring the listener in. The finished product is an attractive musical journey through Cardamon's world. Which reminds me: the lyrics are quite poetic as well as thought provoking, putting a personal stamp on the listening experience.
Sun As Never stays nicely within the confines of its established mood and vibe, but don't think for a second that that means this grows stale or is in the slightest bit repetitive. The stability in the atmosphere presents a safe place to live for a while, no matter what your mood. The catchy songs have enough punch to allow you to blissfully enjoy your happiness, yet the melodies have enough depth and tension for you to wallow in if you're feeling sad or contemplative. It's gentle, serene, and most versatile.
But don't take my word for it. Cardamon has released this album for free and you may download it directly from their official website: www.cardamon.nl
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Written on 11.01.2012 by
Susan appreciates quality metal regardless of sub-genre. Metal Storm Staff since 2006. Twitter: @HeavyMetalSusan |
Comments
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Comments: 33
Visited by: 154 users
| Boxcar Willy yr a kook Posts: 9155  |
Ha! I beat Mora! well, if its free i'll download it. I probabbly wont like it, but we'll see.
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306  |
Man, this definitely sounds like something I'd kill to hear a few years ago when I just started listening to post-doom era Anathema.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Susan Smeghead Elite Posts: 6941  |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 11.01.2012 at 05:06 Precisely! That crowd would really dig this album. Though.. it doesn't sound like you're "one of them" any longer. Well, if you change your mind and need to feed the nostalgia, this one's free 
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603  |
Not just free, go to their site and see what they've written about it, Troy 
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by Milena on 11.01.2012 at 10:42 I appreciate the sentiments and their stance on the music industry vs the love of making the music they want, but that doesn't mean my tastes are going to change. 
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 11.01.2012 at 11:04 Just wanted someone to see and I figured you stalk my posts the most 
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by Milena on 11.01.2012 at 11:08 I only stalk those I love, deary. Have you listened to this already?
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Ag Fox Angel No More Elite Posts: 4774  |
Didn't realise they had a new one last year
---- loves 小巫
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| BloodTears ANA-thema Elite Posts: 11835  |
Interesting review. I'm especially excited about the poetic lyrics and that it might appeal to Anathema fans.
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 11.01.2012 at 11:13 As a matter of fact, yes, I have, wanted to review it but Lyrinan beat me to it I think this is better than their first album, and the comparison to Autumn is very much in place.
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Written by Milena on 11.01.2012 at 14:35 Luke sent Lyrinan the review request which was originally sent to me
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.01.2012 at 14:41 He sent me one too
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by Milena on 11.01.2012 at 15:03 What? I told him specifically to forward it to Lyrinan if she was interested 
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.01.2012 at 15:13 *looks up date on gmail* January the sixth. Maybe our EIC is having senior moments
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374  |
Written by Milena on 11.01.2012 at 15:18 Theory: Maybe he wanted to see a cat fight between you and Lyrinan, guys love cat fights.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 11.01.2012 at 15:24 
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 11.01.2012 at 15:24 I'm always more than happy to pass stuff to other people so that fails in theory And I don't think I'd be able to beat her anyway
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| Ivor Staff Posts: 5492  |
I thought it might be something I enjoy but for now I'm finding it incredibly tiresome. It might be the singer. I.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by Ivor on 11.01.2012 at 15:51 Maybe because it's not prog? Imo the vocalist is the weak link, just like with The Gathering.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Ivor Staff Posts: 5492 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.01.2012 at 17:14 Two things Marcel. First, the music is fine, it's the vocals that are tiresome. Second, never say that about Anneke ever again. She's still one of the best singers around. If you meant any other of their vocalists, though, I'm fine. I.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by Ivor on 11.01.2012 at 17:18 Anneke was only enjoyable on Mandylion and to a lesser extent Nighttime Birds (but the music wasn't as good as on Mandylion there) for me, after that it went dowhill fast and gets worse every single year
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Ivor Staff Posts: 5492 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.01.2012 at 17:22 Yeah, I'm well aware of your opinion and my opinion will differ. It's good to revisit this argument, though, and find out that our opinions are still different a couple of years down the road. Reality check, so to say, all in order, no apocalypse in site, yet. I.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by Ivor on 11.01.2012 at 17:29 Thank God for that, imagine what would happen if we agreed on this aspect But thank God I will seeing The Gathering perform Always on April 1st in the ORIGINAL band line-up, so NO annoying Anneke to spoil their best album at all
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.01.2012 at 17:31 Last time I checked, that album was really shitty... It has been a while though.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 11.01.2012 at 17:46 Always is superior to anything they did afterwards. Original death doom at its finest. although the keyboards sound weird, but then again keyboards sounded weird in other bands as well at the time.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Ivor Staff Posts: 5492 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.01.2012 at 17:31 This actually got me curious. Haven't been following their news lately, so it's an interesting development. I.
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| Jeeers Posts: 195  |
Bland vocals & mediocre songs. This album is not comparable to any of Gathering's albums. 
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| Dark Blood The Avenger Posts: 1435  |
Interesting review and as you mentioned, the poetic lyrics are nice and interesting. Although musically I find it somewhat monotonous and uninteresting. I actually like some Gathering stuff and Anneke's voice, which reminded me when I heard this, but somehow I don't find it very interesting.
---- It is humanity who must pay homage to the greatness of the Universe... not the Universe to the human narcissism. 
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by Dark Blood on 12.01.2012 at 20:56 I don't knwo why people keep mentioning The Gathering here, because musically Cardamon is way more like newer katatonia than anythign The gathering ever did.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Dark Blood The Avenger Posts: 1435 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 12.01.2012 at 21:09 Hmm, I think I understand the comparison but Katatonia have some power and aggression left in them, musically speaking. I didn't really felt that when listening to Cardamon. Probably Cardamon's vocals are the main reason for the resemblance with Gathering. Musically they're quite different, but I wouldn't compare it to Katatonia.
---- It is humanity who must pay homage to the greatness of the Universe... not the Universe to the human narcissism.
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