Kaowin
Prologue - Demo EP Review
(Promo CDR)
...they produce an atmosphere on which you find yourself souring high on thermals of melody then without warning being swatted out of the sky by an angered torrent of brutality...
Just imagine being seated in a rather plush restaurant (if you can), feeling quite swank, clicking your fingers and demanding your fine wine.   As you turn to acknowledge the subservient waiter, your face to face with Hannibal Lector.  He's pouring the Chateau Latour 1929 Bordeaux into your glass, while looking you up and down and licking his lips... 

That is something like the shock you get when you listen to the music of Kaowin.  It is so schizophrenic, it has beautifully soft assuring and tuneful vocals that lull the listener into an enraptured daydream then they suddenly turn razor sharp and slit your throat.  That combined with powerfully intense metalcore riffs that unleash hell when called upon.

Lets take the opening track Lie To Me as an excellent example.  It features the characteristic and charismatic vocals of Patrick, a voice that can be so Maynard-esque soft and tuneful but equally able to rasp, bark and shout along with the best of the hardcore boys.  This is a great track, providing power-driven riffs that combine with Patrick's vocal-spells to produce a majestic and emotionally atmospheric song.  Well crafted melody that retains aggression and energy at it's 'core'.
Featured Tracks:

Lie To Me - Underhand - Inteligion
As if to remind us that these boys are no lightweights , Underhand piledrives into a far more metalcore sound with intensely chugging guitars and cowbell drum sound.  This is continued with the last track Inteligion, which starts a little weakly but builds up into a thumping song that at times features a quirky vocals style that reminded me of Serge (System Of A Down).

Kaowin offer something very pleasing in their music, they are able to control the finesse of ferocity and mix it with harmony.  They produce an atmosphere on which you find yourself souring high on thermals of melody then without warning being swatted out of the sky by an angered torrent of brutality.  In my opinion, they have that extra something that sets them apart, that something that makes you want to listen.  So enjoy your Chateau Latour as it's indeed something quite special, even if it is served in a chipped pint mug by Hannibal Lector.  In fact, enjoy it especially because of that!

Rigsby (19th February 2002)
Transcripts From The Downtuned
MP3's:
Lie To Me
Underhand (sample)
Inteligion (sample)
a.p.o.r (sample)
Revelation (sample)

Band Website:
www.kaowin.co.uk

Band email:
Patrick or George

 

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