Kings & Crooks – A ‘Full House’ Of Groove.
Kings & Crooks – St. Helens, England, United Kingdom.
Pardoning the impending pun but the debut EP from the St. Helens riff-groovers and severe neck pain inducing mob, Kings & Crooks, is as fresh as it gets. Well, almost.
The band dropped their debut EP, Full House, earlier this month and what you are immediately greeted with are the very components required for that dodgy neck and erratic moves that you weren’t too sure you could even pull off. Of course you can’t pull them off but you don’t let that get to you because of the groove-laden Hard Rock forcing the convulsions.
With the opening notes of ‘Control’, you are sent thoughts of the likes of Red Fang merged with 80s Hard Rock, just without the ridiculous hair, cliches and tedium.
‘Control’ is nothing new, its nothing standout or completely unique but in layman’s terms its fun, engaging and the blues-groove so intertwined throughout the band’s output is more than satisfying.
The opening riff of ‘Devil In Disguise’ is darker with the tempo slowed before an unexpected nod to the Red Hot Chili Peppers earlier-to-mid material rears its funky head, in a lone guitar accompanied by a Flea-esque rumble.
Vocally speaking, as much as you’d expect somewhat subdued vocals due to the down-tempo approach, track two doesn’t engage the listener as much as it should. However, this is redeemed by its sucessor standing as the track it always should have been.
As with any four-track EP, the closer needs to be as strong or stronger than the rest. With ’13’ the riffs are on right side, the vocals continue the harshness of the previous and the messy, tin-like and discordant bass-work although stuck out like a sore thumb, add more of the grit that sustains this Full House.
You find yourself, reviewer or listener, sat there post-listen, satisfied and wanting to press play again, only this time with a room full of people and vast quantities of alcohol. Of course I am not endorsing alcoholism but this could be your “party rock” from a band that although obviously in their early stages, are plodding along just fine.
Find all things Kings & Crooks below:
- For updates, find the band via Facebook and Instagram.
- You can find Full House on Spotify and their Youtube Channel for streaming and iTunes for purchase.
#StayFresh
