OneMetal.com REVIEW:
The Kandidate – Until We Are Outnumbered

Since 2005 Danish metallers The Kandidate (formerly The Downward Candidate) have been attempting to show the world just how metal mainland Europe is. With numerous demos under their belts and nominations in Best New Talent and Best Live Act at the annual Danish Metal Awards it wasn’t going to be long before they were picked up by a label. Napalm Records are one of the best labels when it comes to heavy metal with a roster including Alestorm, Hatesphere, Hurtlocker and Troll to name a few. The Kandidate’s debut release is definitely in safe hands.

However, as good as your label might be at signing some of the best metal bands around, if you can’t write a good album then it doesn’t matter who has the rights to it. Sadly Until We Are Outnumbered is not particularly that good an album, with a few diamonds in the rough.

Kick-starting with Strength Through Diversity you are plunged deep into a myriad of metal, surrounded by blast-beat drums, strong metal riffs and some powerful vocals provided by ex-Hatesphere vocalist Jacob Bredahl. Reminiscent of industrial metallers Ministry, The Kandidate have put together a fantastic showcase of their talents. From here on though, it goes downhill.

It seems that The Kandidate just can’t keep a song idea going for long enough. None of the tracks break the four minute mark and yet for the most-part you’re left wondering when the song will either become entertaining or end entirely. This isn’t to say the songs are bad or poorly written, each song contains elements of great heavy metal – but the band can’t keep it going.

There are one or two tracks on the album worth listening to though, Distress And Decay and Live A Lie are definite highlights and prove to be good tracks and your attention doesn’t seem to dwindle. These tracks however are both under three minutes long which could be the reason.

At times the album can become quite samey and generally unfulfilling. As a band The Kandidate are first-rate in terms of their talents and how metal they are, but the album just isn’t anything special. There’s not enough in each song to make you want to listen to it again, it could have easily been condensed to an EP.

Bottom Line

A very metal Danish band's debut simply doesn't deliver. Despite the skill and precision in which they play, the majority of the songs don't leave a lasting image.