EP REVIEW: Kings Today – Sicksense
It’s safe to say we as mankind are in somewhat of a trying time. We have been for the past three years, let’s be honest. An upside to the constant turmoil is it provides a hugely fertile bed for musical inspiration. Turning their nu-metal tainted lens toward their own lives, SICKSENSE release their debut EP, Kings Today, this Friday. Blending elements of nu-metal and groove metal, the band give us five tracks of brutal honesty and introspection. Fronted by husband and wife team Killer V and Rob The Ripper (Vicky Psarakis of THE AGONIST and Robby J. Fonts of STUCK MOJO respectively) the five-piece hope to add momentum to the current bubbling of nu-metal resurgence.
The title track starts off proceedings with a full-frontal assault on the easy provocation of the masses. The squeal of Breakdown Bran’s guitar punctuates lines of groove laden riffs. Sat against the savage bounce of Spot-On Sam (bass) and The Trve Cody Taylor’s drums, Killer V’s screams of “no discussions just arguments” echo the very sentiment this band is trying to dispel. Aiming to burst the illusion many of us create via social media, Rob The Ripper quickly spits venom, exposing the fact “nothing is how it seems”. For those expecting full-tilted growls from the marriage of THE AGONIST and STUCK MOJO, that does come in abundance, but there are also moments of soft melodies. Killer V’s clean vocals provide a brilliant contrast between her lower register “we will rise from the ruin” and Rob The Ripper’s barks of “stay in your lane now, son”. Does that give a lyrical confusion? In places. Sonically however, we haven’t a single complaint.
It doesn’t take long for SICKSENSE’s attention to turn inwards. Forgotten Days chronicles Rob The Ripper’s dalliances with depression. His proclamation of “I’m enslaved” comes from the place of desolation and desperation. This is only highlighted further with the screams of “this is not who I’m supposed to be”. When cast against faster dual riffs and pummelling drums, SICKSENSE perfectly capture a rapturous mind consumed by malediction. This is visited again in Heart Of Stone, an ode to brutality against vulnerability. The beauty of having the male and female perspective is being able to clearly differentiate between that cursed mind and words of encouragement. It’s this chemistry not only between husband and wife but also genres which gives this EP the bite it’s looking for.
If there is going to be a musical commentary on the state of the societal world as it stands right now, it’s almost a certainty there will be some sort of attack against the mainstream media. Opening with a muted riff and slow build, Make Believe is that affront. Peppered with electronic beats and thick basslines, the co-vocalists’ screams and growls are much meatier than anticipated. There’s no mealy-mouthed antics within this track as the band are quick to mention “everyone’s a liar, who should you trust”. Had SICKSENSE left this tune as a heavy-hitting nu-metal and metalcore hybrid, it would have worked incredibly well. Yet the melodically clean and anthemic chorus comes as a surprise for us – a very welcome one if not jarring upon first listen.
Kings Today’s 20-minute runtime seems to run away from us before it has even started. What we find within this EP is stacks of potential. It’s small nuances such as Soul Snatcher’s melodic chorus fusing with rap vocals which catch our attention. The song’s slight industrial sound hooks into us for repeat listens and it’s here we hope they lean further into their ideas for future releases. Heart Of Stone’s opening distorted guitars are left to ferment and become a thick riff for us to “bounce around in time to the groove”. Bigger dual growls on the chorus for both songs would have worked wonders, though we suspect they’re saving that for the live arena.
With Kings Today, SICKSENSE have given us just a taste of what’s to come. As we said, there is an abundance of potential for this brood. This EP teases its listener, as well it should. It leaves us wanting a full-length release, if only to see if they capitalise on the ideas they’ve been brewing since the band’s conception. If SICKSENSE take advantage of the solid foundations they’ve built for themselves with this EP, they will set themselves up for one hell of a full-length album we wait for with bated breath.
Rating: 7/10
Kings Today is set for release on April 22nd via self-release.
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