By Gareth O'Malley
Lesser bands probably would have broken up by now, but it's a testament to Kill Chaos's self-belief that they're still hanging on by the skin of their teeth after so long. You see bands throwing in the towel because they don't have enough momentum, but the Nottingham/Mansfield/Sheffield trio have stuck at it for 6 years, and all this hard work looks set to pay off. It's been a long enough road for the band since they formed in 2007, but much of that can be pinned on the fact that they've only been playing with a stable line-up for the guts of 2 years.
That line-up is Darren Clewes, Gavin Treliving and Tom Waddingham, and PromisesPromises is the sound of a band who have spent as much time as possible honing their craft. Compared to previous years, the last 2 have gone by in a flash for the band - half that time was spent making the album, and suddenly, here we are. The trio have made music that takes influence from some of the alternative rock greats of the last decade or so - Sucioperro, Hundred Reasons, Reuben (the ex-frontman of whom is bringing them on tour with him next month) - and they find themselves in good company.
The album thrives on minor keys and buzzsaw riffs, with Treliving's distorted bass kicking things off on 'Boy Done Good', whose stomping drums and muscular chorus immediately signal that Kill Chaos are a force to be reckoned with. Their music relies on contrasting dynamics, but they're just as comfortable with the jagged rhythms of the likes of 'Got A New Drug' as the surprisingly straightforward pop of 'Falling Down', which is an ideal entry point for those unfamiliar with the band. If you're seeking something heavier, though, lead single 'Crush' is well worth 3 minutes of your time.
The band are quite fond of keeping the listener on their toes, with 'Futures' making great use of some unusual time signatures, an air of unpredictability ensuring that the track's melodically powerful conclusion has the desired effect; they also have a knack for throwing curveballs and playing with conventional song structures, as they do to explosive effect on 'Let's Play Politics', a sure-fire album highlight.
On a record that possesses so much forward momentum, one would expect one or two songs to fall through the cracks, but there's enough energy here to ensure that Kill Chaos hit all their targets. They display enough songwriting nous and pure commitment to lay the groundwork for what's to come - PromisesPromises is the work of a band who know exactly what they're doing. They've got a great future ahead of them.
