EP REVIEW: Ambiviolent – Kite Thief
Candy metal might sound like a strange term, but Bristol five-piece KITE THIEF make it look easy on their debut EP Ambiviolent. Dealing in a combination of pop and metal, KITE THIEF are sure to leave a sugary sweet taste in your mouth that will have you coming back for more. The band formed at university in late 2018/early 2019 and have been taking the UK scene by storm with their energetic live performances and explosive singles which have all been leading to their debut full release. Whilst it might only be five songs long, Ambiviolent is an ambitious EP that has been a long time coming.
From the electro intro-turned-metalcore breakdown of opener The Tide, it is clear that KITE THIEF are a real gem. The pop vocals over the heavy riffs shouldn’t work on paper, but thankfully the band are experts in this strange yet highly accessible genre of theirs. Whilst the breakdown around halfway through does take up a chunk of the four-minute runtime, causing the song drag a little, the rest of it makes for an excellent opener that even incorporates a few screams at the end.
In fact, all the EP works thanks to the slick production. The electronic beat in Goldsick could easily be played at a nightclub, whereas the tongue-in-cheek fun of Judge Judy & Executioner doesn’t detour from the hurt that laces the lyrics, which are about a relationship going sour. Shush and the title track are both heavy in the electronic influences, especially with the latter’s electronic guitar riffs, and they serve as a fun closing pair for an excellent EP that showcases an exciting new band that may soon take the world by storm.
Whilst the EP works well as a whole, there are some individual moments in the songs that stick out like a sore thumb. For example, near the end of Goldsick, there is a peculiar electronic-metal breakdown that feels out of place because of how abrupt it is. In addition, whilst the tracks on the EP do sound different, there is a bit of a formula here. Each song starts off with a mixture of electronica and metalcore, before falling into pop vocals over a metallic guitar riff, and then there is an electronic/metal breakdown and a fun and bouncy final chorus. In fact, the only song not to do this is the title track, which allows the EP to end on a note of what might come in the future.
Of course, this is KITE THIEF‘s debut EP, and therefore early days for the band. Whilst the formula does get slightly tiresome by the end, the band are clever enough to not put all their eggs in one basket, and even then the formula does help the EP stay coherent.
Overall, Ambiviolent is a fun EP from a unique and exciting new band. It is clear that they know what they want their music to sound like, and, despite most of the songs sticking to a similar pattern, the EP is a coherent one. KITE THIEF still have a lot of time to develop, and whilst it might not be perfect, Ambiviolent is a brilliant debut from a band who are going to make 2024 their year.
Rating: 8/10
Ambiviolent is set for release on December 15th via Year Of The Rat Records.
Like KITE THIEF on Facebook.