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Kings
n’ Bosses, is the fourth full length from this Dutch 5 piece
specialising in a unique brand of disjointed hxc party time drunk’n’roll.
Released on ‘Go-Kart’, Kings n’Bosses showcases
a much tighter and polished band which have upped their ferocity
whilst still harnessing the party time rock and melodic-punk they
specialised in.
Right
from the opener, “042”, Malkovich launch into a stomping
tirade of screeching guitars, double pedalling and screaming.
Tracks are kept fresh by perfectly timed breakdowns or complete
shifts in pace and style. Those with keen ears will spot their
knack for riding upon dark and sumptuous pop-punk melodies which
invoke a sense of romantic disquiet and a yearning for past glory
days, a la Converge and Since By Man. Stylistic comparisons to
early Converge are further exposed on the emotional battering
ram which is track “035”. Hugo Malkovich sounds like
a man possessed, yelping with all his energy and an evident glint
in his eye, over a wonderfully crafted dark melody and driving
beatdowns. Influences are not just restricted to emotional metalcore,
instead, dark and intelligent indie pop soundscapes are brought
into play, whilst at other times homage is paid to Iron Maiden,
especially Maiden’s ‘No Prayer for the Dying”
whose influence washes over a number of tracks, especially “046”.
Malkovich
cannot be accused of creating a one-dimensional release. This
album testifies their ability to glide through a large repertoire
of (albeit linked) styles, (even stomping Euro-glitchpop), many
of which are effortlessly confined within the space of a single
track. This is a highly consistent 53minute, 12 track release
however tracks 1, 2, 7 and 10 really stand out and are the picks
of the bunch. (KS)
For
fans of: Everytime I Die, Since By Man, early Converge, Beecher,
Atreyu
Click
here to buy Kings
'n' Bosses
Write
about this album here
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