Angels is the first instalment of four EPs from DIY rockers Kinsley and it explores themes of desperation, addiction, suicide, loss and, eventually, healing.

By Graeme Smith

Kinsley are Christopher Adkins on guitars, vocals, and programming, Adam Staley on drums, vocals, programming, engineering and mixing, and Christopher Jones on guitars, and vocals. The three have been collaborating from a young age and formed the band’s current line-up in 2021, after having been releasing music as a duo since 2016.

It’s fair to say that Angels is not a collection for the faint-hearted and each of its tracks will have you running an emotional gamut. This is typified by its opening track Beacon. An atmospheric, ambient start sets the scene before pleading vocals come in. They explore the dark side of life, bringing it to visceral life through image-laden lyrics.

Musically, there is a touch of the cinematic about Kinsley’s brand of hard rock. Classical strings support monster riffs and the presence of it all never lets up as the track grows and grows. It’s a powerful taste of what’s to come in the EP’s other two tracks, Magenta and Revival.

It’s an impressive sound for a band that do everything themselves. The production is truly second to none. Yet, it’s not the bells and whistles that the listener connects with, but the very human story of the EP. You can’t help but feel along to every word.

Things are coming out good for the childhood friends that make up Kinsley. It just goes to show that if you wear your heart on your sleeve you will find connection out there in the world. I can’t wait to hear what the other three EPs in the series will have to offer.

Angels is set for release on 6 June 2024 and you can pre-save it here.