The Kinison could well become your favourite band in a very short space of time. Having been told by various people to expect big things of the five-piece, hopes were high and upon first listen, not only was I impressed, I was left begging for more.
The worst thing I can say about ‘The Kinison‘, is the EP is a mere five songs long. All five are technically sound and brimming with intelligent hooks and catchy, sharp lyrics. Describing their sound is easier said than done, with the band finding middle ground between At the Drive In and The Blood Brothers. But hey, fuck comparisons dude! The way the band fuse rawkus punk rock and post hardcore together with the tightest of ease is testament to not only the band, but also producer Casey Chaos of Amen fame, who first picked up on the band and has since supported them all the way.
Enigmatic opener ‘Hey Hey Hey’ is uplifting, bouncy and is sure to be a hit at Kinison live shows as the screeching vocals of frontman Chris Lewis hit all the right notes in an opener which sets the tone for the five song journey. ‘New way to dance’ is a little less imposing, but still receives marks of 110% for effort and energy.
‘The way I used to be’ is a little more broken down and simplified for the masses, but still doesn’t lack the energy we have come to recognise from the vocals and music alike. Going back to Lewis’ vocals, he makes the job of frontman almost look simple. Angst and smooth vocals blend passionately together and he has no trouble complementing each song with his own unique style. ‘The Kinison area 53′ ends the EP in ferocious fashion, not letting up for a second with backing vocals working fairly well with Lewis’s customary strain.
With focused song writing, infectious hooks and melodies raw enough for the underground yet sparkling just enough for the mainstream, they have all the ingredients to become the next big thing. Fearless Records have got a promising bunch of punks on their hands and you would be foolish to let them pass you by.
Jay