Kiana - Abstract Entity (2009)

Kiana's a young Finnish band who perform melodic death metal with many accessible factors: catchy chorus parts with clean vocals, chugging low end guitars and melodic hooks that fall within the tradition of many Swedish/Finnish bands. This kind of band would normally be a dime a dozen, but Kiana manage to pull it off with a superb production and riffs that do actually catch your attention. The band I'd most compare them to would be fellow Finns Diablo.

"Greed" ordains the album with a transfixing, groove rhythm battery that breaks for a choppy verse rhythm and a pretty good chorus melody. "Beloved Addiction" is your average uplifting Scandinavian melodeath charger, complete with emotionial buildup (clean to harsh vocals) and melodic explosion. Normally I roll my eyes at this sort of song, but Kiana have taken care to make even a song like this catchy. "Heartburn" is an aggressive melodic thrasher with some cleaner, gothic metal-like vocals. Once more, the band is catchy. Other good tracks are the raging "Son of the Dawn" and the very hooky "Worries Turned to Dreads".

Abstract Entity sounds quite amazing for a debut album, it has the bigger budget tone which fans of this genre tend to crave, and should carry the band far. Every note is clear, the instruments are well balanced and the vocals (whether the tough guy barks or the cleaner parts) sound very catchy. The lyrics on this album often feel like the scratchings of a 13-year old on his locker when he's upset with a girlfriend or one of his bros betrays him, so I think the band could mature beyond 'take it away, make it go away, touch this cold heart of mine, heal this sickness in me'. But we've all been there, and to be fair, the delivery of the lyrics often makes you forget their lightweight nature. Bottom line: if you loathe melodic death metal of the accessible variety, ala In Flames, newer Soilwork, Diablo, etc, then avoid this album. If you fancy some of those bands, then check out Kiana, who do a fine job of it.

Verdict: Win [7/10]

http://www.houseofkiana.com/