Review
KYOTO DRIVE – THE APPROACH
Released 28th May 2012 (I Am Mighty Records)
Words: Stevie Blackburn
After spending a big chunk of last year touring around the UK, Birmingham based band, Kyoto Drive are back with new album The Approach. The quartet may have been around for a few years, but they prove with a lot of time, effort and hard work great things can be achieved.
The latest release from I am Mighty Records may only be just over 20 minutes long but it’s obvious from the beautifully melodic opener ‘Receive This Little Breath’ that The Approach is here to tell a story. Taking a more mature approach (excuse the pun) ‘Holiday’ shows just how the boys are growing up not only as people but musically as well demonstrating that they’re not just a cliché Pop Rock band that’s so common in the UK music scene today. Frontman Adam Binder provides real emotion in each song on the album proving that songs can come from the heart without having to sound cheesy.
Already established fans will recognise infectiously catchy track ‘Chapters’ as the B Side to single, ‘So Much Alive’ which gained many new fans with the video release for the track back in January last year. If you’ve yet to check out ‘So Much Alive’ for yourself then be prepared to be singing the song for hours afterwards as you will find the chorus incredibly addictive.
If the band haven’t worked hard enough as it is with constant touring and creating an album produced by Matt O’Grady (You Me At Six / Deaf Havana), they’re set to make 2012 their year by going on tour with Violet at the end of the month and then hitting the road with emo favourites, Hawthorne Heights in September.
You can download The Approach on ITunes, Bigcartel or Spotify or to visit the boys’ Facebook, click here. If any UK bands are the ones to watch this year it’s safe to say Kyoto Drive are one to keep your eyes on.
