From Bandcamp, “In “The Source," KOZORIA paints a romantic and dramatic universe throughout the tracks. Each story depicts the anxieties of human beings facing the violence of their own emotions. The hostility of these environments often mirrors internal conflicts intertwined with paradoxes. Songwriting serves contemporary narratives. The polyphonies create contrasts, they induce dual meanings, they evoke irony or invigorate the main melodies. However, these generally dark themes are consistently punctuated by luminous breakthroughs, glowing with hope and vitality.”

The album has nine songs, and “Pandora’s Box” is first. Out of the gate, comes a thick and dark sound, with weighted accents in the riffs. The vocals have a certain cadence to them, and they roar our in anger at times. Melodies are tucked in between the weight, filling up the cracks. “Demonize Them” brings more heavy and dark elements with it, and you can feel the inner conflicts bubbling up and reaching out with rage. The harmonized clean vocals temper that rage quite well, and the song has an emotional quality to it, but the sudden transition to gutturals in a punishing breakdown reflects more of those conflicts.

“Leviathan” is a sea serpent demon noted in theology and mythology, and the song has that ominous quality of what it might be to come across one. This song has great melodies and harmonies in the vocals mixed in with dark and sinister qualities in the music. “Dawn” is a turning point in the album, as well as a brief reprieve from the earlier burdensome and hefty tones. “Reborn” has a gritty edge, reminding me of the heavier side of a band like SYMPHONY X, as well as their strong sense of melody. The beast also has a bite in him that you would not want to get too close to. “We’re Wolves” is a fast mover that has a thrashy riff along with clean and harsh vocals. Like the title, it has considerable fangs that could do some real damage.

“Fading Embers” focus more on the melodies that make the album as strong as it is. This song is more traditional in the sense that the band stays within the lines. “The Source” closes the album, and it is much longer, giving the chance for the band to explore. The song develops into a real beast, and gives the band a chance to search more sounds but still stay grounded. What is it about Progressive Metal bands from France that are so exciting? The country is perhaps best known for the finer things in life, including its exquisite cuisine, fine wines, fashion houses, and picturesque country sides. Any Metalhead worth their weight in salt also knows their propensity for outstanding Metal bands, and “The Source” from KOZORIA is a very promising effort from a band looking to get a chunk of that notoriety.