With this EP, Nya, the melodic hard rock band fronted by the effervescent Anezka Piska are set to make a big impact on the music scene. With a place already secured at the Slovenian Metal Days festival alongside a number of high profile artists, there is no doubt that Nya are rising fast and, on the strength of ‘driving the nails in’, deservedly so. Featuring five tracks that rush by in a blaze of heavy riffs and perfectly phrased vocals, the EP is the perfect introduction to the world of Nya and liable to see the band’s fan base spread like wildfire once word gets out.
Opening track ‘back to you’ is a great introduction to the band with its surging riffs, pinch harmonics and, the band’s crowning glory, Anezka’s strong, melodic voice. It’s the sort of mid-tempo hard rock that manages to addict you before you’ve even thought about it, the hook-laden vocals veering towards pop music territory even whilst the concrete-hewn riffs provide a solid backdrop from which the band can work. In terms of references the band’s sonic template is somewhere between Within Temptation without the gothic drama, The Gathering and Ozzy Osbourne, the chunky riffs glistening with a radio friendly sheen that makes the EP sound polished but not overly so. ‘You are’ works in much the same way – storming riffs providing a hefty backdrop to Anezka’s vocals but with the sense of melody guaranteeing you’ll be humming the songs for days even if you’ll hate yourself for doing so. Nya further keep things interesting by making their songs very busy (although not overcrowded) with multiple guitar lines sparking against each other in the mix while the solid rhythmic foundation laid down by Dan Hayward and Paul White throbs away at the heart of it all. It’s a powerful sound the band have opted for, and one that they play with guts and gusto demonstrating exactly why they’ve proved so popular with festivals such as Bloodstock and Metal Days. ‘Open your eyes’ is another excellent example of the band’s intelligent mixture of pop and metal, the melodic hook the musical equivalent of crack even whilst the music hits home with real force.
Kicking off with an almost stoner groove, ‘choir invisible’ is the EP’s standout track, the guitars throwing up a bass-heavy groove whilst Anezka’s vocals add a minor-key vocal line that is as compelling as it is different to the other tracks on offer here. Lyrically powerful it is an emotional, hard-hitting song that not only combines the best aspects of Nya’s sound but also injects a rippling solo into the latter half to underscore the band’s excellent musical credentials. The title track closes the EP on a high with another powerful groove laid down by the guitars and you’re left in no doubt whatsoever that Nya are destined for big things.
‘Driving the nails in’ is the perfect introduction to the world of Nya. Metallic, melodic, powerful and produced to a pristine standard, it highlight’s the band’s potential in no uncertain terms. There is no doubt at all that with songs of this quality the band’s debut full-length will be a rare treat and the only disappointing element of the EP is that it ends! Anezka’s voice is certainly a focal point, but this is very much a band effort and the driving rhythms and taut riffs are every bit as important as the scintillating vocal lines that dominate the release. Nya are definitely a band to be watching and ‘Driving the nails in’ is an excellent release that will be manna from heaven for fans of driving metal with a strong sense of melody. This is just the beginning of the band’s story – but what a beginning! This EP comes highly recommended.
