There’s something special in the waters of Switzerland when it comes to heavy rock/metal over the years. So this scribe’s ears perk up when taking in another band from this country – even if it’s more of a darker, acoustic / electric entity with alternative and gothic strains as you’ll hear in Kissin’ Black. They’ve released two albums, a full-length remix record, and an EP during the 2010’s, leading us to this newest album Veleno. Over the course of these thirteen tracks you’ll hear an energetic, moody style that pays careful attention to endearing hooks, smartly executed transitions, and addictive vocal melodies that combine the spirit of acts like The 69 Eyes, HIM, Sentenced, Tiamat, and later day Katatonia.
The execution of electric and acoustic guitars, distinctive in the way they build up the atmosphere from a foundational standpoint, allows the mid-range, morose vocal approach with supportive background passages a chance to keep the songs very memorable from the get-go. Stripped down piano parts gives beauty to the emotional verses for “Remain”, while there’s a colder, underground griminess to the rhythmic nature to follow-up “Gimme Deliverance”. When the band chooses to elevate energy, you get some rockin’ affairs like “Adrenalin” and “Dancing” that should get eyebrow lifts from even the curious crowd, the latter featuring some nifty bass licks to stand above the natural, pulsating guitar/keyboard chords. There are two versions of the mysterious title track – one sung in Italian, while the other executed in English – both engaging in their own way, probably broadening the global interest in this act. The sextet possesses an intoxicating outlook on this genre, always reaching for the right melancholic note or aspect to round out these tantalizing tracks chock full of pure passion from the heart.
Kissin’ Black definitely offer a diversion from the extreme heavy material that many of us at Dead Rhetoric expose ourselves to – but that doesn’t make Veleno any less worthy of your time, attention, and energy. Hopefully these tracks will allow the group to broaden their fanbase, as the alternative, gothic, dark rock across acoustic/electric spectrums here captivates enough for a wide range of followers to dig into.