Courtesy: Adrenaline PR
San Antonio, Texas based metalcore band Kingdom Collapse recently released its new EP Common Ground. The three-track EP is a good collection of songs for anyone that is a fan of the metalcore genre. Even while there are only three songs on the band’s new EP, the impact of the music’s combined music and lyrics is enough to leave listeners breathless by the EP’s end. A prime example of the power of the band’s music on this disc is the EP’s second song, ‘Dear Dad.’ The title alone invokes thoughts of it being just another song about someone’s broken relationship with one’s father. That’s typical fare for so much mainstream rock. But the reality of the song is anything but that. Rather, it’s a letter of sorts written to a young man’s father after the father dies. Vocalist Josh Wolford screams on this song, “Dear dad/I hope that you’re proud of me/I hope I’m the man you expected of me/Dear dad/I pray you’re looking after me/I pray I’m the son/You always wanted me to be.” The wording used here would easily lead listeners to believe that the song is about a broken father-son relationship. But that view is easily wiped clean as Wolford’s father figure replies to his son, “Dear son/Please know I’m so proud of you/I’m so proud of the man/That you’re growing into/Dear son/I’m always looking after you/Just reach out your hand/And I’ll always pull through for you.” What listeners get here is a hypothetical situation in which a son is talking to his deceased father. At the same time, the father is there in spirit, talking to his son, even though his son can’t hear or see him. Considering such lyrical content, one would expect the song to be less intense. But it actually works as the music’s intensity mirrors the intense feelings being felt inside the son. Many listeners will be able to relate to those intense emotions, too, thus making this a good addition to Kingdom Collapse’s new EP.
Another of the EP’s songs worth checking out is its closer, ‘Serenity.’ Wolford writes in the song’s chorus, “God grant me serenity/To accept the things/I can’t change/Please God/grant me the divinity/To change the things that will/they say stay invisible/And believe/The unbelievable…” Again the intensity in Wolford’s delivery and that of his band mates—Cameron Huser (bass/vocals), Michael Childress (Rhythm guitar), Jonathan Norris (lead guitar), and Hayden Allen (drums)—gives this song a certain impact that can only be experienced in listening to the song for one’s own self. Anyone that is a fan of We Came as Humans, As I Lay Dying, Underoath and others of that ilk will definitely appreciate that impact both musically and lyrically. The same can be said of Common Ground’s remaining song, ‘Bottom Feeder,’ which opens the EP. Whether for this song or for the two mentioned here, Common Ground proves to be a good first impression especially for audiences that are new to the band’s sound.
Audiences, whether new to Kingdom Collapse or relatively new to the band’s sound, will get to hear both of these songs and more for themselves tomorrow, March 28th, when the band performs at Headhunters in Austin, Texas. Also scheduled are live dates in Dallas, New Braunfels, and the band’s hometown of San Antonio next month. Audiences can keep up with the latest tour updates and more from the band online through its official Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/kingdomcollapse.
Common Ground can be downloaded now via iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/common-ground-single/id789801380. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
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