I should clean the house, clean my car, clean the garden. I should do a lot of things but all I want to do right now is check out some more new music. I’ve always been a great procrastinator so why stop now? Let’s check out Kiss Kiss Bang’s new EP ‘Hungry, High & Seeing Things’.
I was taken aback by the pure power that kicks this quick four-song EP off in “Solid Gold”. you can hear an 80’s influence in the guitar work and vocals but something about this opening track keeps it from feeling dated. It’s powerful, anthemic, and perfectly polished even though I would consider the style more garage-rock than anything else. There’s an undeniable sense of swagger in the vocals that is mimicked in the screaming guitars. Even though this track is over five minutes long, it seems to fly by just due to the pure power behind everything going on in it.
“High Price (for Peace of Mind)” again kicks off with a powerful guitar part before angsty vocals come in and take over. There’s no denying the attitude in this track and it’s that attitude that made this track an instant favorite of mine. I heard a slight southern swagger in “Solid Gold” but I feel like that really comes to the forefront in this second track. Although I wouldn’t call this track a southern rock styled song, there’s definitely that influence in here and it lays the groundwork for Kiss Kiss Bang’s distinct sound. I love that about halfway through this track there’s a slight break as if giving the listener a chance to catch their breath before Kiss Kiss Bang comes back in with their signature wall of sound.
Whereas it was the guitar that kicked off the previous two tracks, goosebumps-inducing vocals kick-off “Easy 2 Love” just showcasing yet another aspect of Kiss Kiss Bang that stands out in this EP. The vocals throughout this EP have had me stunned but I feel like the perfection of the way they lead into this track is just the icing on the cake. Again, I’m getting an almost 80’s hard rock vibe from this track but it doesn’t feel dated as that would typically mean. The way this band teeters on the edge of retro and modern is the perfect balancing act at “Easy 2 Love” is a song that showcases that in all of the right ways.
Although I was a little bit surprised that “Slow Motion” didn’t end this EP with a slower track, I was so happy to hear that Kiss Kiss Bang continued to show off their distinct sound until the end of this quick EP. This entire EP is full of power but that power turns into something a bit more anthemic for this final track. Although not my favorite track on the album, this last song definitely stood out as one of those songs that would be so accessible for so many people. You still hear this retro 80’s vibe but also get a more modern rock sound melted into it. This track could speak to those old-school rockers who are so stubbornly stuck in their ways and to the youth who are constantly looking for some new sounds to take over their lives. This is a great ending to a great release.
My Favorite Track(s): “High Price (for Peace of Mind)
For Fans Of: Pure Power; 80’s Undertones
Mosh-ability: 6 out of 10
What My Cats Thought Of It: Artie slept right next to my computer; Autumn slept upstairs
How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 7 out of 10
My Overall Rating: 7 out of 10
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Check out ‘Hungry, High & Seeing Things’ HERE!
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