Nya
We were recently sent through a copy of Driving The Nails In, the latest EP from Southern England based Nya. Having burst onto the scene with their all-new line-up at the beginning of 2011, and self releasing their debut EP to rave reviews, the band have already achieved a headline slot on the Doghouse Stage at Download 2011, so are truly on the up. Having recorded their EP in the spring of 2012, using Final Focus Studios over in Holland for the mixing and mastering, the band are stepping forward now to be seen, recognised, and striving for world domination with their sound.
Opening with Back To You we’re immediately shown the style of the band, fading into a funky and bass heavy mix of pounding drums, roving bass rhythms and a solid guitar tone, all backed up by the soaring vocals of Anezka. Melodic yet powerful, this is a mix here which is accessible and easy to listen to, but also one which holds a hell of a lot of distorted power, the sort of thing which is going to appeal to fans of hard and soft alike. It’s clear to see why these guys are already on the up when you hear this opening track, it’s got the right combination of heavy and melody which keeps the track alive, moving, and the sort of thing that you can’t help but want to see played live. You Are continues this idea, once again launching us into a pounding melee of melodies and power, the whole mix combining together into something which is impossible to resist. The vocals are once again the key here, elevating the mix to new level and achieving a sound which many bands simply aren’t capable of producing. There’s a catchy element to this track as well, something which is going to gather this track a reputation as a live anthem, the sort of track that secures a band a name as one to make sure you check out.
Open Your Eyes seems to shift the style of the band slightly as it gets going, opening as it means to go on with a hammering guitar line but accompanying it with a real sense of accessibility which verges on the pop side of the spectrum. Don’t read into that as meaning this is a soft track, there’s just an immediate catchy sound, a combination of guitar and vocals which wouldn’t sound out of place on the radio, and a feeling that this track could well be the break through track for the band. It’s a shock then when Choir Invisible comes on to take the lead and shifts us back into the heavy and upbeat style which got the record going, however it’s also a damned good feeling. Once again moving back to the funky and upbeat tempo which started things off, this is a track that you can’t help but want to move along to, the sort of track which is going to get people dancing and moving from the off and leave no doubt as to the ability of the band to craft their tracks. The guitars steal the show here, hammering out a riff which is sure to get some serious air guitar going on, it’s a perfect mix which stands this track out as my personal favourite from the EP.
Closing with title track Driving The Nails In the EP finishes on a heavy note, closing with a sense that this is a band with a serious mission and a serious sound to back it up. Heavy, powerful, melodic and catchy throughout, the final moments of this EP match every other track on the 5 track EP, standing it out as something beyond what you’d expect from a band just starting out, simply it’s so accomplished and well put together that it’s really quite awesome to hear.
I’ve heard of Nya before so was looking forward to hitting play on this new EP, but I hadn’t expected to hear what I heard. Imagine an EP which is carefully crafted, well produced and mastered and featuring songs which you know you’re going to be humming for days to follow – this is the one. From start to finish the band have crafted tracks which take you on a journey, leading you through the EP and leaving no doubt that Nya are going to be a serious force to be reckoned with very, very soon!
Driving The Nails In is released on November 5th 2012 – my advice – get hold of it. Check out the video for You Are below!
To find out more about Nya, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Back To You we’re immediately shown the style of the band, fading into a funky and bass heavy mix of pounding drums, roving bass rhythms and a solid guitar tone, all backed up by the soaring vocals of Anezka. Melodic yet powerful, this is a mix here which is accessible and easy to listen to, but also one which holds a hell of a lot of distorted power, the sort of thing which is going to appeal to fans of hard and soft alike. It’s clear to see why these guys are already on the up when you hear this opening track, it’s got the right combination of heavy and melody which keeps the track alive, moving, and the sort of thing that you can’t help but want to see played live. You Are continues this idea, once again launching us into a pounding melee of melodies and power, the whole mix combining together into something which is impossible to resist. The vocals are once again the key here, elevating the mix to new level and achieving a sound which many bands simply aren’t capable of producing. There’s a catchy element to this track as well, something which is going to gather this track a reputation as a live anthem, the sort of track that secures a band a name as one to make sure you check out.
Open Your Eyes seems to shift the style of the band slightly as it gets going, opening as it means to go on with a hammering guitar line but accompanying it with a real sense of accessibility which verges on the pop side of the spectrum. Don’t read into that as meaning this is a soft track, there’s just an immediate catchy sound, a combination of guitar and vocals which wouldn’t sound out of place on the radio, and a feeling that this track could well be the break through track for the band. It’s a shock then when Choir Invisible comes on to take the lead and shifts us back into the heavy and upbeat style which got the record going, however it’s also a damned good feeling. Once again moving back to the funky and upbeat tempo which started things off, this is a track that you can’t help but want to move along to, the sort of track which is going to get people dancing and moving from the off and leave no doubt as to the ability of the band to craft their tracks. The guitars steal the show here, hammering out a riff which is sure to get some serious air guitar going on, it’s a perfect mix which stands this track out as my personal favourite from the EP.
Closing with title track Driving The Nails In the EP finishes on a heavy note, closing with a sense that this is a band with a serious mission and a serious sound to back it up. Heavy, powerful, melodic and catchy throughout, the final moments of this EP match every other track on the 5 track EP, standing it out as something beyond what you’d expect from a band just starting out, simply it’s so accomplished and well put together that it’s really quite awesome to hear.
I’ve heard of Nya before so was looking forward to hitting play on this new EP, but I hadn’t expected to hear what I heard. Imagine an EP which is carefully crafted, well produced and mastered and featuring songs which you know you’re going to be humming for days to follow – this is the one. From start to finish the band have crafted tracks which take you on a journey, leading you through the EP and leaving no doubt that Nya are going to be a serious force to be reckoned with very, very soon!
Driving The Nails In is released on November 5th 2012 – my advice – get hold of it. Check out the video for You Are below!
To find out more about Nya, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
