What appeals to me the most about Kaura’s five-song EP is how
all five songs build to create a tremendous release. Many bands
make the mistake of trying to be everything to everyone in a short
time. Some five-song EPs I’ve heard start out with balls-out heavy
metal with lots of double bass and end with a Def Leppard-ish “Love
Bites” ballad. EPs like this are frustrating to me. I don’t really
want to hear everything the band has ever thought about recording
— I want the band to define their style.
Kaura does that impressively.While I can’t say
Kaura is the best release of 2005 — it’s too early in the
year for that — I can say that of the releases I’ve heard so far,
Kaura is one of the best. Putting a finger on the band is
not easy, though. Vocalist Malcolm Guess, drummer Benjamin Jones,
guitarist Ben Rojas and bassist Joe Hauler combine elements of
modern-day hard rock warriors Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, and
Shine Down throughout these five songs. There are delicate
progressive sections where Jones and Rojas feed off each other’s
rhythms, and there are times when Guess Is introspective and
personal in his musings about life, death, and relationships.
The first track, “Becoming,” starts things out right with an
aggressive guitar riff. Hauler and Jones lock in quickly, allowing
Guess to lead the band’s journey. Of the five, track two (“Now or
Never”) stands out as my personal favorite. There’s an energy in
this song that is addictive.
Since arriving in my mailbox, I’ve been spinning these five
songs at least twice a week. I’ve internalized their music and
their overall vibe. Those that pay attention to the reviews I write
will notice that once a band gets under my skin, I use them as a
frame of reference. With that in mind, Kaura joins my list of
personal favorites that include Disarray, Somehow Hollow, Count the
Stars, Ten Foot Pole, and Pain. You can learn more about the band
at
www.kaura.com,
including getting a listen to the songs on this EP through the
audio/video page link.
I will remember Kaura in December when I write my “Best of 2005”
article. . .
