Kyoto Drive mix up the sound of Drive Thru circa 2002 and something slightly more modern and driving; I guess Tonight Is Goodbye is a decent comparison, although not quite as catchy or punctual. All of the tracks on this four-song EP weigh in at 4 minutes or more and at time I feel the band would be better served shaving 30 seconds or so off to tighten things up. ‘Don’t Turn Your Back On The Sun’, for instance, is a great little song but perhaps goes on a little too long. That said, the chorus is hella catchy and will have you singing, tapping and dancing along – it’s the standout song on the EP and suggests the band, if they hone their skills, can write a tune. The gang vocals and backing shouts, which also appear on ‘The Man VS Everything I Love’, are also very nice indeed.
At times Kyoto Drive sound like early Armor For Sleep, at times some of their riffs are slightly Fightstar-esque. They don’t ‘fit in’ which is both good and bad – good because they sound like they’re trying to forge their own niche, bad because it’s not instantly accessible (in the way TIG are). This is a promising EP mind you. There’s intelligence and maturity in the songwriting and plenty of catchy parts too. If they hit the road and practice, practice, practice who knows what could happen.