Knock out stuff indeed.

Knock Out Kaine is a British quartet who have been playing the live circuit for a few years, honing their craft before venturing to make their debut album. If that sounds like the old fashioned way of doing it, when bands played around the Sunset Strip hoping to be picked up by a label, you’re not too far from the mark. While Knock Out Kaine certainly have the musical vibe from that era, they also show an impressive knowledge of the business they are in, which is probably why they have created such an astonishingly strong debut album.

After winning Kerrangs ‘Best Unsigned Band’ competition in 2008, you’d think that they’d have rushed out to capitalize, but not these boys. They continued playing gigs, supporting the likes of Adler’s Appetite, while self-funding the recording of their debut record. This allowed them to work at their own pace and without outside interference. The result is ‘House Of Sins’, a fantastic, energetic, party rock album with obvious late 80s L.A. flavours. Look underneath that and you’ll find a versatile band with a strong singer in Dean Foxx.

His vocals, complimented by the fiery guitar work of Jimmy Bohemian, blast the songs out underpinned by the rumbling bass of Lee Byrne and the drums of Danny Krash. And what a great collection of songs! The title track is a superb slice of Motley Crue styled sleaze, but without aping Vince Neil and co. Several of the songs have that party vibe about them, such as ‘Liquor Up’, ‘Set the Night On Fire’ and the suggestive ‘Going Down (She Goes)’. There’s a more subtle side to them though, with the ballad ‘Backstreet Romeo’ and the obvious single choice of ‘Coming Home’.

There is quality throughout the album, ‘Skinstar’, ‘Somebody Save Me’, ‘Little Crystal’… they’re all choice cuts. With co-production and engineering fulfilled by Ewan Davies (The Darkness, Kaiser Chiefs) and mastering by Ray Staff who has mastered everyone from Cradle Of Filth to Black Sabbath, the record sounds fantastic and is beautifully packaged. Knock Out Kaine took their time with this album, and it paid dividends. Knock out stuff indeed!

James Gaden