The time has finally come for Kozoria to announce its debut album.

Almost 10 years after its creation, the band led by Julien Perdereau (vocals/guitar), Kevin Delcourt (guitar), Pierre Gelinotte (drums) and Bertrand Janicot (bass, Remember the Light) has signed to Swedish label Black Lion Records for the release of The Source.

The album gets off to a technical start with Pandora’s Box and its heady jerky rhythm, complemented by mysterious clear vocals, a few screamed backing vocals and a majestic ambience, immediately creating a certain catchy contrast. Symphonic as well as Metalcore influences can be found on this long track, followed by the more straightforward Demonize Them, where the groove prevails at first, before returning to more ethereal, accessible parts, such as the unifying choruses, where the musicians slightly slow the pace. The powerful break allows us to break our necks before Leviathan sets its dark tones to start the track, followed by more motivating elements with intriguing Prog tinges. We also notice an interesting vocal diversity, notably this shift from clear to saturated vocals, then the band follows up with Division, a track they play live and which has therefore already proved its worth both in terms of raw effectiveness and soaring, airy melodies. The choirs add a majestic aspect to the composition, followed by Dawn, a mysterious instrumental interlude that leads into Reborn, a creation they also already unveiled and has proved its worth, contributing to the heavy martial atmosphere while also providing some welcome soothing moments. We’re Wolves continues to make use of impressive samples and aggressive backing vocals, fuelling the track’s duality, which is based on a double kick that is sometimes very present, but which also proves to be very soothing on the final before Fading Embers follows suit, continuing to place hypnotic touches in its solid rhythm. The haunting part and then the explosive final carry us through to The Source, the eponymous track that clocks in at around nine minutes, during which the four musicians first showcase themselves in soothing tranquillity, then with furious patterns that explore all their influences to finally create that sort of climax with which the band will leave us.

I’ve known Kozoria for a few years now, and the band has progressed enormously. The Source is a protean compendium where rage, groove, complexity and relentlessness blend together in the most harmonious way, revealing parts as intense as they are surprising.

90/100

Version Française ?

A few questions to Julien Perdereau, guitarist, singer and founder of Kozoria, for the release of their debut album, The Source.

Hello, and first of all, thank you for your time! Without using the usual Metal labels, such as “Prog” or “Metalcore”, how would you describe the band Kozoria?
Julien Perdereau (guitar/vocals): With pleasure, thank you for having me! You start off with a very nice question. Kozoria is a fundamentally melodic band. There are some more Death, more atonal parts, like in Leviathan or The Source, but the basis of the songs remains the melody, whether it’s carried by the voice or the guitar. We’re always trying to strike a balance between richness of composition and efficiency, to get to the heart of the matter in each track without it becoming redundant. Basically, Kozoria‘s songs are rather long but catchy. That’s why, in any case, neither the Prog nor Metalcore labels seem appropriate to me, because we’re really sailing between two waters (and I don’t really listen to Metalcore). 

How do you personally relate the name Kozoria to the band’s music?
Julien: When Julien Bazile (the first singer) and I started the band, we wanted a name that would evoke the root of things, the infinitely small to explain the infinitely large. We thought of Cause Area, which we changed until we came up with Kozoria. So this project means a lot to me. It’s an apprenticeship, a vehicle for expression; it’s something that has matured with me. I like the name because I’ve always wanted to tackle themes that go to the root of things, that delve into the human psyche. I like to think that this is Kozoria‘s strength, that its rather simple music brings a certain wealth of inspiration to the listener. 

The Source, your debut album, is about to be released. How do you feel about it? Have you had any feedback on it yet?
Julien: I’m really looking forward to it. All four of us are. As I often say, do you know many pregnancies that have lasted several years? That’s a LONG time. I’m also a bit nervous, that’s for sure, because it’s a first album, and it has to convince and please. No matter how proud you are of your baby and how magnificent you think it is, you can never be sure that everyone will like it! What a cruel world we live in. But the truth is, we’ve already had some very positive feedback on it. One of the nicest compliments we received was “an excellent example of intelligent but accessible music”. That’s exactly what we’re trying to offer. One of the things that really amuses us is that everyone can hear the influences they want to hear. We rarely hear the same band names twice! I think that’s a good thing, because it speaks to people.

How would you sum up The Source in three words?
Julien: Well, without cheating, I’d say “rich, catchy, contrasted”. Sounds good to me!

The album The Source comes out almost ten years after the band’s creation. Why did you choose this name for the album, and what does it mean?
Julien: The name came quite quickly. As I said earlier, Kozoria has always been keen to look at the root of things, the triggers of emotions and human relationships. For example, in Pandora’s Box, the myth of Pandora is used to explore the mechanisms at work in traumatic memory. In Demonize Them, the tone is more brutal, as the protagonist becomes intoxicated with hatred to block empathy and resilience. Love is often involved in all these mechanisms, whether it’s love of self, of others, or of ideals, since it can be our driving force as well as our poison. It’s a duality that has always attracted me. For all this, the name The Source seemed appropriate.

Have you noticed any changes or evolutions between this track and the latest finalized compositions? What about the evolution compared to the first EP, released in 2016?
Julien: The first Kozoria EP was already different in terms of band composition. I’m the only remaining member of the line-up from that time. So yes, I was already composing and it was a first draft of which I’m still proud, it was a first experience that taught me a lot, but 8 years have gone by, my tastes have changed and I listen to much more varied things. All this has enriched my composition. Choral singing, for example, was my entry point into music: I would never have dared to use choirs in my music 8 years ago. And when I saw it in other groups, I said to myself that I wasn’t going to deprive myself of it, because I really like it. This album is a kind of synthesis of all the knowledge I’ve been able to accumulate over the last few years, of everything that makes me tick in music. 

The eponymous track, The Source, is by far the band’s longest, clocking in at almost nine minutes. How did you go about composing it?
Julien: The composition process was the same for all the tracks on this album. The composition was done “vertically”. In other words, I didn’t compose the instruments one by one, then the vocals, then the synths and choirs. It was all at once. This is now the most natural process for composing, in my opinion. It keeps the tension on each section and maintains a good balance throughout the composition. To sum up, each piece is like an equation: there’s only one solution for everything to make sense, and the creative process is all about finding it! The only difference with The Source is that we knew it would be last on the album. So we allowed ourselves to compose a longer piece. So it took almost 2 years to write, because there were a lot of colors I wanted to explore and express in it. And I don’t regret it – we’re very proud of it!

I know it’s a tough question, but do you have a favorite track on this album? Or the one that seemed the most natural to compose?
Julien: Yes, that’s a difficult question. I think my favorite track right now is Pandora’s Box. All the riffs still drive me crazy, and it cuts across a lot of influences I’ve had on my “musical journey” over the last few years. Mudvayne, Haken, System Of A Down, Gojira… But I have to admit that The Source is particularly touching for me, too, and the hidden tracks are always a great experience. What? Two tracks? Did I cheat?

What were the guidelines for the artwork? How did the collaboration with the artist go?
Julien: We already had the composition in mind. We knew we wanted a gigantic tree with a mysterious light emanating from it. So we had to explain all that to the artist, while also letting her express herself, and define an artistic direction. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, we came up with the version the world is about to receive! We’re really glad we called on Aude (Brisson).

The Source is out on Black Lion Records. How is the collaboration going? What about your partnership with Hell Frog Promotion, in terms of management and booking?
Julien: Hell Frog Promotion is a key partner in the band’s growth, because Brigitte André (in charge) was quick to understand the band’s approach. Now it’s her experience in the music world that helps us structure the band into a long-term project. Our partnership is built on trust, which is invaluable in times of rush and when important deadlines are looming. We also benefit from her know-how when it comes to booking in France and Europe, and it’s thanks to her that we’ve been lucky enough to play in some fine European venues and festivals for the past two years, alongside experienced bands from her roster (Havamal, Slow Fall, Raven Throne, Thy Kingdom Will Burn)! As for our label Black Lion Records, it gives us a great deal of freedom in our artistic choices and communication. They’ve been convinced by our music and our approach, and are counting on us to grow with our first album. In return, we know we can count on him to open new doors and develop the project with us, and that his strike force and communication will be done in good intelligence. In both cases, we’re very lucky to have a real relationship of trust with our partners.

I’ve already had the chance to see you in action several times on stage, but how do you personally experience a Kozoria live show?
Julien: A Kozoria live show is above all a lot of preparation. We try not to leave anything to chance, and we want the audience to be with us from start to finish, so that there are no moments of hesitation to break the bubble. For me, that’s the best moment in the life of a band, when you feel that you’re connected with the people present, that you’re sharing something with them. That’s something I really admire in some non-Rock/Metal concerts, is the ability to create something special with the audience, like Jacob Collier can do. I kind of aspire to that for the future, even if I know that Metal’s musical codes limit that a little.

What are Kozoria‘s next projects? The band has also scheduled a release party for October 11th at the Backstage. Do you have any surprises in store for us at this show? How did you choose the opening act, the band Maudits?
Julien: A European tour, with dates already scheduled in Germany! We’d also like to meet up with our fans in the south of France, where we know a lot of people listen to us. For the release party, without going so far as to talk about a surprise, we’ll be putting on a concert during which we’ll be playing the whole album, in exclusive versions adapted for the concert. It’s going to be great. And for the opening act, we wanted a band that would stand out from the crowd and fit in with our universe. When Bertrand (bass) told me about Maudits, I was immediately hooked on their music, and the fact that it’s instrumental with a cello was enough to convince me. But it wasn’t easy, because there are so many good up-and-coming French bands I’d have liked to invite and whose work I admire: Horama, Rest In Furia, Synapse, Giant Fragments…

Are there any musicians or artists you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
Julien: Not particularly, I don’t think. But we’re not closing the door on collaboration, but we’re not really thinking about it. Although collaborating with well-known singers would of course be a great experience. I’m thinking of Matt Heafy from Trivium, Joe Duplantier from Gojira, Manuel Gagneux from Zeal and Ardor… I also really like the work of Gautier Serre with Igorrr, Louis Cole with Clown Core and former Haken keyboardist Diego Tejeida…

Do you think you’ve improved as a musician with this album?
Julien: Without a shadow of a doubt. Already in terms of playing, but also in terms of production! All the work involved in arranging and composing for an album has made us all progress enormously. And now, more than ever, I’m hungry for something new to listen to, so as to avoid going round in circles with the same gimmicks and atmospheres.

What bands do you dream of playing with? I’ll let you imagine your dream date with Kozoria opening, and three other bands.
Julien: Very good exercise. I’m only going to speak for myself, because I know that my compatriots have different answers (Pierro, our drummer, would probably say Cult Of Luna and Amenra!). For my part, I’d say Kozoria – Haken – Leprous – Gojira. It’s hard to limit yourself to just three bands, isn’t it?

Last question: what dish would you compare Kozoria‘s music to?
Julien: Great question! I’d say it’s a big couscous. Everyone puts what they want on their plate, it can be vegan, there are lots of different tastes, it’s a very rich dish. It’s a very rich dish, and you can serve yourself endlessly. Couscous is really good.

That was my last question, so thank you for your availability, and the final words are yours!
Julien: Thank you for keeping metal alive in France. And thanks to all our readers, we’re REALLY looking forward to getting you excited about this album and this release party. There are still a few places left, so now’s the time to get your ticket!