Kilfeather - Island of Forgotten Toys

 

I was pretty knocked out when I saw this power trio last week at the Double Down, so I had to pick up some sounds while I had the chance. Led by Kevin Kilfeather (ex-Strange Mistress on guitar/vocals), who, according to Facebook, has released over 30 records since 2006 (!!), the band includes hard-hittin' beat keeper, Mike McGuiness, and rock'n'roll bassist Ben Doran, and has influences ranging from all kinds of punk rock to a wide variety of 70's metal to power pop. To my ears, they're kind of a harmony-driven, melodic 70's stoner metal combo like Priestess, although with their own twist, natch. 

The album kicks off with huge power chords and a head banging beat for an overture with hints of Alice Cooper and Roky Erikson before it moves into the riff-rockin', Danzig-ish rocker, "King Creep", with some wild soloing at the end. "Accuse" is a bit less heavy'n'a bit more poppy, but still fast movin' and with more neat guitar lines and a psyched-out mid section, "Bleeding Hearts" is a bit of an a-rhythmic riffer, but is melodic as heck with crazily layer vocals'n'keys for the Cheap Trick-ish chorus, back to the metal for the insanely lumbering "Never Stop" - really dig the multi-tracked, harmony guitar lines - and "Beneath the Silence" continues with massiveness but with highly melodic, harmony-packed vocals, "Goldminer" is a slower groove but still concentrating on the tunefulness, while "Sick" wails in a more punk rock fashion kinda like LA's Freeks, and "In Circles" is a true headbanger but catchy as hell with more groovy dual lead guitars. Frantic'n'furious, "Europa" is also a bit eerie while "The Veil" has a Danzig-like guitar hook and more horror-movie-like melodies, "Wasted Youth" is, appropriately enough, pop-punk (more or less), and for the grand finale we get "Cheers", more stun-guitar pop metal.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about the modern metal scene in general, much less what is happening in Vegas, but these cats certainly cross over to the punk scene and fit in well at the Double Down and I look forward to hearing more from them. A great live act and this record truly rocks with great production, terrific playing'n'singing'n'songwriting and I really dig their concentration of both guitar and vocal harmonies!