KIDS & HEROES, perhaps better known by their previous namesake The Exception, are Winnipeg’s newest and most promising pop-punk exports.
With catchy hooks akin to the very best of New Found Glory, substituting Jordan Pundik-esque whines and squeaks for slightly snarly vocals not unlike the godfathers of cheesy chart-toppers Good Charlotte back in the better days of the early 2000s where everyone and their dogs were reeling off ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous’ like it was classic poetry, the group may not exactly be a breath of fresh air, but nevertheless a perfectly adequate addition to the most positive and catchy of genres.
Opener ‘Take It Back’ is twinged with hardcore influence – think Four Year Strong meets Set Your Goals – and vocal hooks as infectious as the deadliest of diseases. With a mammoth chorus and the obligatory pop-punk gang vocals, it’s undoubtedly music by numbers but still not enough to write off as a complete textbook carbon copy of every band in Kerrang!’s current rotation. ‘The Getaway’ is much the same in regards to song structure – classic melodies and shared vocals with a slight kick of hardcore styling every so often. Stand out track ‘Spilt Milk’ finally breaks the much used mould and explodes wildly compared to the rest of the group’s debut release.
Although not exactly the cream of the crop in regards to today’s scene and not particularly the most enthralling of hot new bands, it’s clear that Kids & Heroes have at least some promise for the future. Let’s just wait and see.
OLIVIA JAREMI