Kive are one of those bands that you hear and wonder why you haven't heard them before. Originally a three piece post-rock outfit, the addition of former Brutally Frank vocalist Jeremy Frank has added another dimension to their sound.
The four songs on their debut EP Gravitate rise and fall, building layers of sound, with Jeremy's vocals floating above the instruments. It's a sound that works well and the band manages to maintain a distinctiveness through their songwriting.
These aren't your typical three minute rock songs, crafted only to ensure they get radio play. Instead, the EP clocks in at around 20 minutes, giving the band time to explore their sound within each song, which in turn leads some well crafted moments in the music.
The third track, Autopsy, was the standout for me, and was where all the different elements seemed to gel together the best. That's not to say the other tracks weren't good, but that track just seemed to have something extra to it that lifted it up for me.
The production on the album is great, thanks to York Street Studios and producer Hayden Taylor. They’ve managed to capture a very clean sound that complements the music and credit should be given to the band for making sure they got the sound that they needed in the recording.
KIVE have been evolving their style of music since 2008. Heavy alternative rock which is both experimental and instrumental.
2010 sees KIVE launch into the music world with force and impact to deliver high energy live performances.