The members of X.Kernel first came together in the city of Kiev, in the Ukraine. Initially they were inspired by the sounds of the Gothenburg metal scene – the hard hitting but overtly melodic music of bands like In Flames, Dark Tranquillity and Soilwork – but as their individual talents blossomed and their song writing skills flourished, so did their unique musical identity. While melodic death metal remained the bedrock of their sound, X.Kernel began to expand and develop in new and exciting directions. This is their debut album, following on from an EP a few years ago, and finds them signed to an American label.
They are only a four-piece, which must cause them some problems when playing live, as they need the twin guitar riffing attack that comes through on this album. Vocally they often stay in the death metal scene, but vocalist/guitarist Nikita Larionov does sometimes sing in a more normal style, and I prefer that sound. Although the rhythm section does their best to keep everything powering along behind the guitar, it is often to the keyboard sounds of Alina Borodkina that the ears are drawn, which is a shame as that is the most disappointing part of the album. That Alina can play is never in doubt, and there are both incredibly quick runs as well as great harmonies, but the issue for me are with the sounds and patches that are being chosen. The rest of the band are firmly steeped in the mid-Nineties and beyond, while the keyboards are in the early Eighties, and this causes a mismatch in the album.
It is a debut, so there is plenty of room for the band to grow and mature, and I would like to see them as a five-piece so that they can really provide power to those guitars, and to put Alina a little further back in the mix, with some updated sounds. While it will be of interest to some, it isn’t hitting enough bases for me.
