New York Legend Kevin K
Article By: Nicky M
NY punk veteran Kevin K has put his signature melodic-punk style on hold – instead conjuring up darker-sounding influences that draw a deliberate line to heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath.
BROKEN sets a new standard for volume and heaviness for Kevin K – the sonic clamor reflecting the bleak, dark, cold environment in which the album was recorded – a cold Detroit basement during one of the harshest American mid-west winters on record.
Defiantly lo-fi and written using unconventional arrangements to give added aesthetic purpose, BROKEN contains 12 super-heavy songs that delve into doom metal territory – with low-end frequencies and distortion to create a heavy sound with lyrics that evoke a sense of despair, dread and doom. Commentary on the modern world. We’re all broken…
‘ Recorded intentionally loud for maximum distortion and effect, BROKEN channels the heaviness of early Sabbath and Blue Cheer to land on a dark, heavy, acid-rock sound that is unlike anything you will hear in 2023. ’
Of the songs on BROKEN, Kevin K says, “These might be the best collection of songs I’ve ever done. There is a lot of emotion in these songs, some crazy arrangements and odd lyrics – but it works. All the songs have no lyrics about girls or the word ‘you’. It’s very hard to write like that – and I have never before written songs with multiple parts, like on the song ‘Catacomb Heart’. “The album has a really dark, heavy ‘Black Sabbath 1970’ sound. It must be the weather here in Detroit. Cold, dark, depressing, no sun. It feels like Berlin! The music is super loud and there is distortion, which I like. That gives it the 1970s feel. Yet there are NO distortion pedals used on the album – just my Gibson Melody Maker through my Fender Hot Rod amp.”
2022 may well have been the winter of discontent for Kevin K – yet as BROKEN proves, he has turned up the volume to meet adversity head-on and released the heaviest album of his 35-album career, giving
metal back its street-level grit and fiery attitude. BROKEN takes the listener on a trip to the prototype days of heavy metal – with added desperation to provide a contemporary edge. Metal heads and stoner rockers take note. Turn it up loud. Add alcohol.
THE SONGS ON ‘BROKEN’
- ‘Catacomb Heart’ is a multi-layered monster and nothing short of epic.
- ‘Lost Seahorse’ is auto-biographical. A story about moving from the warm blue ocean to a dark cold industrial city in the mid-west. A fish out of water.
- ‘The Lords Of The New Church’ is a crunching tribute to the 80’s gothic rock supergroup led by Stiv Bators.
- ‘Wrong Way To Hell’ is another heavy-duty outing with a killer time change. Listen out for the nod to ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’.
- ‘Prayers Of Life’ references songs that have formed the rock ‘n’ roll blueprint to Kevin’s life. Ramones, Johnny Thunders, The Heartbreakers, Alice Cooper, early KISS, Sex Pistols, AC/DC, and Dead Boys – all set to a killer arrangement.
- ‘Lonely Soul’ is highlighted by ripping guitar and thunderous drums. This should be in a Tarantino movie.
- ‘Truth Is The Sword’ is a speed metal adrenaline rush reminiscent of vintage Motorhead ’.
- There’s even a bulldozing run through the Dead Boys ‘Caught With The Meat In Your Mouth’ for added malevolence.
- Audio manipulation by Mr. Ratboy…
