There are some bands which simply kick ass, some that try and miss, but just a few who grab it first, give an over familiar squeeze, and then give it a firm boot with their sound. Katalina Kicks has persistently been in the camp of the latter over the years and definitely stake their place with their new double A-sided single. Taken from their acclaim gathering new album Vices, the twin attack of Cold / I Want The World is a mix as aggressive as it is seductive, as agitated as it is thoughtful, and across both tracks relentlessly magnetic.
Consisting of band founding original of 2010 in vocalist/guitarist Ian George with bassist Nadia Silverstone and drummer Jase Wilkinson alongside, Katalina Kicks have just come off a successful 20-date UK and European tour in support of Vices and have prepared a summer of matching busyness and attention with their new single.
Two distinctly different styles of sound and imagination, Cold swiftly and firmly steals the show with its irritable ingenuity. Featuring grime artist GT Solo, the track instantly has ears enticed with dirty riffs and punchy beats, their punky nature an instinctive arousal of our personal appetites for attitude driven dirty rock ‘n’ roll. It is a spiky mix swiftly reinforced by the militant vocal expression of George backed by the spatial sheen of Silverstone’s melodic tones. Taking a biting swipe at the British Conservative government and their austerity cuts, the song is a belligerently potent incitement in word and sound embracing a new voice in the shape of the self-penned words and vocal dexterity of South London lyricist GT Solo. Quite simply irresistible stuff, the track is punk rock raising a middle finger at the establishment with craft and a lingering rock ‘n’ roll snarl.
I Want the World is a much calmer proposal though with its own underlining bite as melodic and classic rock merge in a clean cut but still enjoyably dusty roar. The clang and melodic prowess of the guitar is courted by the moody yet infectious shuffle of the bass, Wilkinson’s beats swinging with forceful intent across their catchy union. Maybe less striking at first compared to its team mate, the song only grows to increasingly tempt and persuade with every eager listen.
The single makes for a highly eventful and resourceful doorway into the diverse sound of Katalina Kicks, a potent glimpse of their bold escapades. Whether it is their finest moment, we cannot say not having heard all their adventures but it and especially Cold is one of the best moments, song wise, to be heard this year.
July 21st sees the release of Cold/I Want the World.
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Pete RingMaster 19/07/2017
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
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