Kiska

Off the coast of Alaska lies the Aleutian Wilderness, a chain of sixty four volcanic islands which form the northern cap of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Toward the western end of the chain, you will find Kiska — a small, isolated, and unpopulated land mass, noted mostly for its shipwrecks, bomb craters, and active stratovolcano. Despite its rugged history, a ceaseless pounding from both man and nature, the island itself remains unfathomably beautiful.

Heavy, majestic, desolate, ominous. There are no better words to describe Kiska’s self-titled, debut release. Leaving behind the more radio-friendly leanings of the quartet’s former band, Desoto Jones, the musicians reinvented themselves with Kiska, pursuing a heavier, more dynamic, and frenetic direction.

In comparative terms, sonically the record falls in the general vicinity of bands like Jawbox, Failure, Rival Schools, and Hum — driving, dynamic, and aggressive, but with clean and resounding choruses. A delicate balance of space, power, grit, and color.

Heavy ideas tackled on a heavy record — a formula reminiscent of a legacy of noisemakers from all eras. <br>