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| KingdomKingdom2006 Goodbye Blue Skies 
 Review by: Anchors See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
Kingdom @ MySpace (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 Published on May 25th 2007
Those who stand for nothing, fall for anything.- Alexander Hamilton Though that quote has been bastardized and misused in yearbooks and MySpace profiles across the country, it’s still a very powerful thing to think about, and it’s something that applies to a lot of the more socially and politically-minded punk bands of the day than some may realize. It’s an easy thing to have beliefs, but to have convictions is another thing entirely. Kingdom certainly have convictions, and the subject of those is going to divide everyone who’s able to get past the singer's unseasoned snarls. The subject at hand is veganism, and it’s one that the song “Bathory” shows is as important as anything to this four-piece: In a moment I was forever changed, when I made an oath that no life / Would be taken in my name, our claims of natural / Reveal themselves as criminal, so I commit to compassion / Will you answer this call for action?Leaving no room for fence-sitting, Kingdom is able to provocatively have anyone listening question their own beliefs, myself included. As somebody who’s never even considered veganism, the fact that those words were able to make me think about the reasons I eat meat is a testament unto themselves. I know it’s a subject that’s likely to turn a lot of people off, but it’s something that can’t hurt to think about. So it’s not the message that turns me off of Kingdom -- it’s the music. The punchy vocals and repetitive chord structures grow tiresome quickly, and all the youthful enthusiasm in the world can’t save the fact that they checked the diversity at the door. Within 10 minutes' time, the songs become muddled and hard to distinguish, with barely any individual element changing between them; it’s always the same mid-tempo attack with raspily screamed vocals. Even the weakly attempted gang vocals at the end of “Black Sheep” feel like they were thrown on for the sake of it, and they lack a full sound that would help separate from the increasingly mundane offerings. I have a lot of respect for people that truly do stand for something, I just wish the latter half of Mr. Hamilton’s thought echoed into the actual music, because if that doesn’t fall, your interest surely will. Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
vegan edge is fucking stupid. its bullshit. its cliche. and i'm vegan. not edge. but seriously, most bands that do this shit are pretty cool. wait... not. fuck hardcore these days. its stupid. Eye of Judgement is a good vegan edge band. Check them out. This band is decent. i looked at the pictures on their myspace and i dunno... she was wearing a few siqq jerseys. which kinda erases cuteness real quick. Band is kinda boring. The singer is mad cute though. Kingdom is awesome live, and their songs aren't as bad as claimed. The guitarist hates to play the generic stuff, which is why in the 10 kingdom songs written, there is only one breakdown (in Bathory). I think that ep isn't the best recording, but Kingdom's music is in fact as "diverse" as the next band. I'd ignore this review and give it a shot yourself. I think this record sucks but the band does not. I also think if you asked anyone in the band they would say this record sucks. It was their first music put out just to have something before a tour. Also, word has it that the record label is folding, so I would give their next shit another try. i'm sorry, but this bands music is just bad. why is it that every band that is super into veganism has to be a generic hardcore band? i've always thought if you wanted to spread a message better, it would be a better move to play music that a larger amount of people would listen to, like something with more mass appeal to make people that would never think about it otherwise think about it. most kids in the hardcore scene know all about veganism, so your pretty much just preaching to the choir there. This band is amazing live kingdom > you worthless fucks. it makes sense seeing as attrition (band that played right before MMMoth) toured with Kingdom earlier this year. coincidentally, the kid wearing the kingdom shirt plays in attrition. i just got back from a mass movement of the moth show at AU. someone there was wearing a shirt from this band! |
