ALBUM REVIEW: Crying In Overdrive – Killer Kid Mozart

KILLER KID MOZART are not afraid to talk about their emotions. On their third album, the Norwegian band confront the self-pitying nature of emo rock by self-deprecation. The name of their third album is Crying In Overdrive, and they spill out the emotion on it until it threatens to overflow. But ever since their low-fi debut album For The Night was released in 2019, KILLER KID MOZART have been gaining popularity in their home country of Norway and have been re-defining their sound ever since. During the pandemic, the band found sanctuary in the town hall of their home town of Elverum and the result is eleven songs full of honesty and emotion.

The first thing that listeners need to know about this album is that it is a journey. Whether it is the power-pop of opening song Birch Sap, the fast-paced rock of Bend Me Down or the indie-rock of Destroyer, the band lead the listener down several winding roads. Yet, despite all the changes, it works well thanks to the production of the album.

However, the album isn’t always perfect, as songs such as Kristyna gets lost in the noise. Furthermore, the aforementioned Destroyer suffers from production issues on the vocals. However, when songs such as the heartbreaking This Sunday I Went To the Moon come on, it more than makes up for the issues on the album. Lyrically, the band are at their best on this album, whether it is the euphoric rock of Pretty When I Cry or the sombre Side Effects. The rawness of the lyrics are fantastic and honest.

However, the same cannot be said for the pacing. The first few songs on the album are very short and as a result are very fast-paced, but then the album turns into a medium-paced one as the songs become longer in the duration of the album. This pacing is then interrupted by an interlude that feels unnecessary near the end of the album because it disrupts the medium pacing that listeners were getting used to.

On the other hand, the change in pacing could show that the band are not just sticking to one pacing. But by constantly switching between fast paced and medium paced songs, the album sounds a bit scattered. This is a shame because after the fast paced songs, the album gets into a bit of a rhythm and stays consistent.

Overall, KILLER KID MOZART‘s third album is good – for the most part. The first four songs are very fast-paced and go by in a flash, meaning that they do not make an impact on the listener. Furthermore, the production means that the vocals on one of the songs is hard to hear. Thankfully, the album finds its rhythm when it embraces the medium paced rock songs. Furthermore, the lyrics are brilliant throughout, and the album’s sound is coherent, even though the band play different genres. Crying In Overdrive might not be breaking down any new barriers, but it is a fun and listenable album that old and new fans will love.

Rating: 7/10

Crying In Overdrive is out now via self-release. 

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