Daniel Cardoso (born 28 March 1981) is a multi-instrumentalist, song writer and producer. He was born in the south of Portugal, and is currently a member of British band Anathema. Daniel was also in Head Control System with Kristoffer Rygg and Leafblade with Danny Cavanagh.
First known as the drummer in the band SiriuS, and with whom he released two records through the Norwegian label Nocturnal Art Productions (property of Tomas "Samoth" Haugen). In addition to his drumming, Daniel was responsible for all the orchestral compositions, synth performance, most of the bass guitar recordings as well as co-producing both albums. His experiences in SiriuS has helped Daniel develop a multi-angled perception of music creation. When SiriuS later nailed down a record deal with Nuclear Blast he decided to move on, because, as he said, "it just wasn't funny anymore". He then conceived and commenced working on SinDRomE, i.e. Severe Damage on Reason and Equilibrium, his musical "means" to manipulate minds via sound, that would later become Head Control System.
Daniel presently has an extensive curriculum as both producer and/or session musician for a vast list of bands: Anneke van Giersbergen, Head Control System, Ava Inferi, Angelus Apatrida, Heavenwood, Ramp (live), Anathema (live), Vertigo Steps, W.A.K.O., and many more. Furthermore, he was invited by the band Re:aktor (signed on Nuclear Blast) to join their flanks - which he did for a while - featuring on their debut record's single video and joining them on their European tour supporting US band Exodus as a drummer.
One of his most acclaimed outcomes is the work with Kristoffer Rygg on Murder Nature, Head Control System's debut album, released worldwide by The End Records (US) and VME (Europe). He also recently started developing his solo efforts as Del, although things are not clear whether this is a serious project or not.
During late 2010, Daniel started producing and co-writing Dutch artist Anneke van Giersbergen's fourth studio album "Everything is Changing". The new single "Feel Alive" came out on YouTube on September 2011 and the album is expected to come out on early 2012.
Daniel also owns the brand UltraSoundStudios, a franchised company that has two recording studios operating in Portugal, one in Braga, in northern Portugal and the other one in Moita, southern Portugal. He currently splits his production jobs across both studios.
During his career, Daniel played hundreds of live gigs behind the drum kit. Although he was most seen stepping the stages with the Portuguese live cover band RCA (featuring members from Ramp and Re:aktor), he also played several gigs with SiriuS, The Firstborn and Re:aktor. In 2006 Daniel had to step in as a drummer of the renowned Portuguese act Ramp, after their drummer Paulo Martins got injured and was unable to play the drums. Among other shows, Daniel played on the main stage of SBSR 2006 summer fest, featuring other bands such as Alice in Chains, Tool and Korn. He was also seen playing drums with the English band Anathema on their show in Tunis, Tunisia, on 22 July 2010 due to drummer's John Douglas temporary absence. During that time Daniel was still playing with Slamo, Leafblade, and heavy rockers Heavenwood. However, in early 2011, Daniel becomes a live touring member of the British band Anathema, although not behind the drum kit, but rather handling the keyboards, synths and sampling department playing major venues, arenas and headlining shows all over the world.
On the eve of Anathema's 2013 tour of the United States, the band announced that drummer John Douglas and bass player Jamie Cavanagh would be unavailable. In response, Daniel shifted to drums and the band recruited Tobel Lopes for bass duties.
Daniel is credited in or as been involved with:
SiriuS - Fiery Strife At The Cosmic Gates Of Armaggedom (Promo-track) 1998SiriuS - The Eclipse (Tape) Andromeda Creations 1999SiriuS - Aeons of Magick (CD) Nocturnal Art Productions 2000SiriuS - Spectral Transition, Dimension Sirius (CD) Nocturnal Art Productions 2001SiriuS - Aeons of Magick The Eclipse (Special Edition Double LP) Hammerheart Records 2001Holocausto Canibal - Sublime Massacre Corpóreo (CD) So Die Music 2002Projecto Alpha - Original Soundtrack 2005 (unreleased)Head Control System – Murder Nature (CD) The End Records (US) / VME (EU) 2006Ava Inferi - The Silhouette (CD) Season of Mist (FR) 2007Heavenwood - Redemption (CD) Recital Records (PT) 2008Vertigo Steps - Vertigo Steps (CD) 2008Switchtense - Switchtense (CD) Rastilho Records 2011Anneke van Giersbergen - Everything is Changing (CD) 2012TwoWay Society (Nowadays known as DIME) (EP) 2013SiriuS - Fiery Strife At The Cosmic Gates Of Armaggedom (Promo-track) 1998SiriuS - The Eclipse (Tape) Andromeda Creations 1999SiriuS - Aeons of Magick (CD) Nocturnal Art Productions 2000SiriuS - Spectral Transition, Dimension Sirius (CD) Nocturnal Art Productions 2001SiriuS - Aeons of Magick The Eclipse (Special Edition Double LP) Hammerheart Records 2001The Firstborn - Empire of Shadows - Tribute to Tarantula (CD) Recital Records 2001Arcane Wisdom - Of Ages Ere The Sun (Ep) 2001Arcane Wisdom - Relics of Elder Might (Ep) 2003SinDRomE - Severe Damage on Reason and Equilibrium (Ep) Ins@ne Prod. 2003Why Angels Fall - ...To The Sun (Ep) Foreshadow Productions 2004Re:aktor - Damage Zone (video) Nuclear Blast 2004Head Control System – Murder Nature (CD) The End Records (US) / VME (EU) 2006Reset - Love & Hate (CD) 2007Oblique Rain - Isohyet (CD) Recital Records 2008Heavenwood - Redemption (CD) Recital Records (PT) 2008Vertigo Steps - Vertigo Steps (CD) 2008Kandia - Light (EP) 2008Scar For Life - Scar For Life (CD) 2008Before The Torn - Burying Saints (CD) 2008Storm Legion - Desolation Angels (CD) 2008Oblique Rain - October Dawn (CD) 2009 (in production)Kandia - Inner Beauty | Outward Reflection (CD) 2010Vertigo Steps - The Melancholy Hour (CD) 2010Slamo - Awakened (single) 2010Audy Braür - TBA (CD) 2009 (in production)Leafblade - 13 (CD) 2010Scar For Life - It All Fades Away (CD) 2010 (mix/ master only)W.A.K.O. - The Road of Awareness (CD) Rastilho Records 2011Vertigo Steps - Surface/ LightSLID3 - TBA (in production)SiriuS - Aeons of Magick (CD) Nocturnal Art Productions 2000SiriuS - Spectral Transition, Dimension Sirius (CD) Nocturnal Art Productions 2001SiriuS - Aeons of Magick The Eclipse (Special Edition Double LP) Hammerheart Records 2001SinDRomE - Severe Damage on Reason and Equilibrium (Ep) Ins@ne Prod. 2003The SymphOnyx - Opus 1: Limbu (CD) Ethereal Soundworks 2005Head Control System – Murder Nature (CD) The End Records (US) / VME (EU) 2006Kandia - Light (EP) 2008Anneke van Giersbergen - Everything is Changing (CD) 2012Audy Braür - TBA (in production)Vertigo Steps - Surface/ LightSinDRomE - Severe Damage on Reason and Equilibrium (Ep) Ins@ne Prod. 2003PUK - Spes (Ep) 2004 (uncredited)W.A.K.O. - Symbiotic Existence (Ep) Adrenalina 2004 (uncredited)Head Control System – Murder Nature (CD) The End Records (US) / VME (EU) 2006Anneke van Giersbergen - Everything is Changing (CD) 2012Head Control System – Murder Nature (CD) The End Records (US) / VME (EU) 2006 (uncredited)Vertigo Steps - Vertigo Steps (CD) 2008 (backing vocals)Heavenwood - Redemption (CD) 2008 (backing vocals)Thee Orakle - Metaphortime (CD) 2009 (guest vocals)Nebora - The Phoenix Syndrome (CD) 2010A Last Day on Earth - Between Mirrors and Portraits (CD) 2009 (guest vocals)Vertigo Steps - The Melancholy Hour (CD) 2010 (guest vocals)SiriuS - Aeons of Magick (CD) Nocturnal Art Productions 2000Amphion - (Ep) 2000SiriuS - Spectral Transition, Dimension Sirius (CD) Nocturnal Art Productions 2001SiriuS - Aeons of Magick The Eclipse (Special Edition Double LP) Hammerheart Records 2001Outstanding - LMNT03 Fire (Split-CD) (Master only) Wanted Records 2005Umpletrue - Fab Fight (CD) Cobra Records 2007 (mix/ master only)Repulsive Strife - Web of Endless Beliefs (EP) 2008 (mix/ master only)Echidna - Insidious Awakening (CD) 2008 (mix/ master only)In Tha Umbra - Thus Open Thine Eerie Wings Like an Eagle and Soar the Winds of Chaos (CD) 2008 (mix/ master only)Desire - Crowcifix (EP) 2008 (master only)Corpus Christii - Carving a Pyramid of Thoughts (EP) 2008 (master only)Scar For Life - Scar For Life (CD) 2008 (mix/ master only)Nebora - The Phoenix Syndrome (EP) 2008 (mix/ master only)Grimlet - Grim Perceptions (CD) 2009 (mix only)Agonica - Portraits of Suffering (EP) 2010 (mix/ master only)Machinergy -Rhythmotion (CD) 2010 (mix/ master only)Nebora - The Phoenix Syndrome (CD) 2010Scar For Life - It All Fades Away (CD) 2010 (mix/ master only)Ava Inferi - Onyx (CD) Seasons of Mist 2011 (vocal production only)For The Glory - Some Kids Have No Face (CD) HellXis Records 2011Grankapo - The Truth (CD) HellXis Records (2011)SinDRomE - Severe Damage on Reason and Equilibrium (Ep) Ins@ne Prod. 2003PUK - Spes (Ep) 2004Snuffle - Muse I.C. (Ep) 2004W.A.K.O. - Symbiotic Existence (Ep) Adrenalina 2004The SymphOnyx - Opus 1: Limbu (CD) Ethereal Soundworks 2005Ciborium - (Ep) 2005 (unreleased)NightMyHeaven - Nightfall In The Spiritual World (CD) 2006Anonymous Souls – Condolences (CD) 2005Head Control System – Murder Nature (CD) The End Records (US) / VME (EU) 2006Reset - Love & Hate (CD) 2007W.A.K.O. – Eternal Spiral of Madness (CD) 2007Red Beating Toy - All Odds Pointing to Massive Fiasco (CD) 2007The Ransack - Azrael (CD) 2007FORGODSFAKE - Life or Debt (CD) 2007Qwentin - Première! (CD) 2007Godiva - Spiral (Ep) 2007Oblique Rain - Isohyet (CD) 2007Corpus Christii - Rising (CD) 2007Ava Inferi - The Silhouette (CD) Season of Mist (FR) 2007Umpletrue - Fab Fight (CD) Cobra Records (PT) 2007All Against the World - The Furthermost (CD) HellXis Records (PT) 2008Kartel 31 - Todos os meus dreads (single)Reptile - Reptile (CD) 2008Rotten Apple - Rotten Apple (EP) 2008Anifernyen - The Pledge of Chaos (EP) 2008Heavenwood - Redemption (CD) Recital Records (PT) 2008Vertigo Steps - Vertigo Steps (CD) 2008Satan's Revolver - The Circleville Massacre (EP) 2008Switchtense - Confrontation of Souls (CD) Rastilho Records 2008The Ransack - Vortex (CD) 2008Kandia - Light (EP) 2008Storm Legion - Desolation Angels (CD) 2008Painted Black - The Forthcoming Cold (CD) 2008in:motion - in:motion (EP) 2008Thee Orakle - Metaphortime (CD) 2008Before The Torn - Burying Saints (CD) 2008Assassinner - Other Theories of Crime (EP) 2008Karnak Seti - Scars of Your Decay (CD) 2008Decay - Fuel For Human Combustion (EP) 2008Primordial Melody - TBA (EP) 2008Oblique Rain - October Dawn (CD) 2009A Last Day on Earth - Between Mirrors and Portraits (CD) 2009Coldfear - Decadence in the Heart of Man (EP) 2009Kandia - Inwards Beauty, Outwards Reflection (CD) 2009SLID3 - SLID3 (CD) 2009Hills Have Eyes - Black Book (CD) Recital Records 2009KILLEM - Reflections of Decline (CD) Noisehead Records 2009Painted Black - Cold Comfort (CD) Ethereal Soundworks 2009The Kanguru Project - Time, Budget and other Disasters (CD) 2010Angelus Apatrida - Clockwork (CD) Century Media 2010Vertigo Steps - The Melancholy HourSlamo - Awakened (single) 2010W.A.K.O. - The Road of Awareness (CD) Rastilho Records 2011Thee Orakle - Smooth Comforts False (CD) 2011Noctem - Oblivion (CD) Metal Blade Records 2011Switchtense - Switchtense (CD) Rastilho Records 2011Karnak Seti - In Harmonic Entropy (CD) 2011Anneke van Giersbergen - Everything is Changing (CD) 2012Audy Braür - TBA (in production)Hybrid - TBA (in production)Pe7erpanic - TBA (in production)Vertigo Steps - Surface/ LightSLID3 - TBA (in production)Crisálida - Terra Ancestral (CD) 2015Being a featured endorsed artist by ddrum, Daniel has been spotted using several models from that brand, such as:
natural colored Dios Bubinga (used mostly with Heavenwood and also in several studio sessions)green sparkle Dominion Ash (used exclusively live with Kandia)green sparkle Dominion Maple (used exclusively live with Slamo)red sparkle Dios Maple (used exclusively in the studio with Leafblade)He also uses a 14" ddrum Hand Hammered Bronze snare on most of his kits.
Daniel has been playing with Zildjian cymbals for a long time. His most common set includes:
6" A Custom Splash8" A Custom Splash13" A Custom Hihats16" A Custom Crash16" A Custom Fast Crash18" A Custom Fast Crash20" Earth Ride16" Oriental China ThrashDaniel is said to be an avid fan of RME equipment, ending up being officially endorsed by the German company on 2012
