Young Guns Album Review
Young Guns – All Our Kings Are Dead
Words by Jermy DeShank
It’s not often that a band has to really step up to the plate and deliver for their debut album but then again Young Guns are not your average run of the mill band. Following up on the Mirrors EP was never going to be an easy task but with All Our Kings Are Dead the Wycombe boys flex their wings and show us just how high they really can fly. With this album they have thrown caution to the wind and come up with something so suprising, so different and just downright good.
The album takes off with Sons Of Apathy and from here on in they just soar. It’s hooks grip you like steady talons but it’s frontman Gustav Wood’s lyrical contribution that really puts this album opener right up there. His lyrics on All Our Kings Are Dead are deep, emotional, well written and honest and has to be Gus’ best work to date. Lines like
My father was an oak
The earth moved when he spoke
My father concurred seas
But was not there for me
Show so much growth in the young writer from the Mirrors material, this goes from strength to strength as the rest of the album unfolds. The other growth that is very dominant is Young Guns musical style. It’s not only gotten better but it’s encompassing so much more than I would ever have imagined from a debut. Winter Kiss particularly has a really eerie dramatic cinematic feel to it that verges on opera styling but in a cool way. Other stand out tracks come in the form of Crystal Clear, Meter & Verse, D.O.A as well as Weight Of The World (which also features on the Mirrors EP). The only downfall to this killer debut is that the opening 8 tracks are really strong and some people might find the ending a little weaker but in essence it’s not. I myself just needed to give the ending a little more time and attention to fully appreciate it and I am certain it will eventually be as well loved as the rest of the album.
8.5/10
February 17th, 2011
I wanna ride your disco stick.