Release Date: 2nd March
Released By: Rocksector Records
Genre: Hard Rock
Links: https://www.facebook.com/knockoutkaine
Line Up:
Dean Foxx – Lead Vocals
Danny Krash – Drums
Jimmy Bohemian – Lead Guitar
Lee Byrne – Bass Guitar
Track Listing:
16 Grams Of Heart Attack
Fire And Smoke
How Would I Know
Diamond Blue
Cascading
Ain’t Your Kind
Boxes
Flying Blind
Because You Were There
One More For The Road
When you get a rock icon of the stature of Bruce Dickinson guesting in one of your videos, you know your doing something right. Midlands rockers Knock Out Kaine had the Iron Maiden frontman/airline pilot pop his head up in the promo vid for their 2012 single Set The Night On Fire, a track off their debut album House Of Sins. Their no frills brand of good time rock has earned them many admirer’s since forming in 2005, most notably Kerrang, who named them Best Unsigned Live Act in 2008. Now 2015, the Lincolnshire four piece are about to let loose their second album, Rise Of The Electric Jester.
Knock Out Kaine come out of the traps snarling with attitude on the full throttle opener, 16 Grams Of Heart Attack. This is no holds barred, tumultuous rock at it’s best.
Fire And Smoke bears all the hallmarks of a Skid Row in their pomp. Brash guitar’s, dangerous vocals with voracious power. How Would I Know shows that this band isn’t all about savage mayhem. Everything about this track exudes a real songwriting intelligence. The chorus is instantly digestible with it’s feelgood 80’s hook, which tie in brilliantly with the verses that are drenched in 70’s campness.
The southern strut of Diamond Blue makes way for a funk licked Cascading, with Jimmy Bohemian’s audacious riff giving this tune balls of steel. It’s another vocal masterclass on Aint Your Kind, vocalist Dean Foxx is clearly a man with an impressive range, so much so you’d be forgiven for thinking he gargles with razor blades, such is the distinct rawness in his voice. And one listen to this jewel and your hooked.
If the complete lunacy and eccentricity of Boxes doesn’t afford you a smile or a uncomfortable chuckle, be very worried. This madcap orgy of unconventional rock is irresistible start to finish. The guys regain their sanity with a hefty dollop of Americana on Flying Blind, a song that should seduce the airwaves with little difficulty.
Because You Were There is an able and solid ballad, with neat and tidy verses followed by a cautiously safe chorus. But in truth, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the previous tracks. Which I suppose is a backhanded compliment due to the qualty of the writing on this album.
Final track One More For The Road throws out more versatility from a band with many tools in their locker. A slick and arrogant groove that unearths a country rock vibe closes the album in style.
If theirs any justice left in this fickle music world of ours, 2015 should be a rip roaring year for Knock Out Kaine. This bands music brings more weight to my belief that a second coming of the rock domination we enjoyed in the 80’s is imminent.
Written by: Brian Boyle
Ratings: Brian 9/10
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