365KGS

Official site for the Rock Alternative band 365KGS

 365KGS - “Storm Rising”

In the space of less than a year 365KGS have written, recorded and executed an album that puts a lot of so-called “major artistes” to shame. When bands these days seem to struggle to come up with anything new, and/or have a tendency to disappear into self-aggrandisement and doom redundancy - 365KGS just keep pouring on the insouciance.
 
Let’s get one thing STRAIGHT,...365KGS write SONGS and perform them with an expertise that contradicts the stupidly short time they have been in existence.
Consisting of Gareth Cook (Vocals/Guitars), Mike Bowles (Bass/Backing Vocals, Keyboards), Nick Wilton (Guitar) and Anthony JOE Derek (Drums & percussion) 365KGS come from humble beginnings. Admittedly announcing (unlike many band s stating otherwise) that they are  normal blokes who all work day jobs”, and reconcile themselves to just “living their lives and getting on with it.”
 
With a seasoned oaken/organic voice core songwriter Mr Cook explores a labyrinthian mountain of existencilist issues within the 365 repertoire. In an almost arguably poetic form the concepts of LOSS, ESTRANGEMENT, MISANTHROPY, LOVE & SOUL, ENVIRONMENT and FRIENDSHIP (among others) are put to the expressive audio arena that wield the 365 art-form.
 
Occasionally spiced up superbly by bassplayer Mike Bowles with an alarmingly rich-sounding backing vocal, 365kgs remind the listener instantly of BIG-NAME-SHOWMANSHIP. The likes of U2, R.E.M & RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS spring to mind. That is not to say they SOUND like these bands (they don’t,...they are better) it is merely a judgemental opinion. Not many bands can leave an impression on these learned ears that shouts out ; “This is like the end of a big multi-million dollar Hollywood movie”,....”The credits roll up and we get a taster of the available soundtrack to the motion picture”...
 
To cut this review short and not reproduce any of the excellent lyrics contained on their album,.365KGS are an incredible offering to anybody that appreciates soul and emotive dissonance within music in general.
 
Take your self on a trip and BUY THE F**KING ALBUM !
 
Scruff Lewty (Hellbastard) Sept 2008.

 

Storm Rising Review on Audiodrome.it

 Sometimes, it happens where you find out something musically different from the usual range, both for personal curiosity or for circumstances letting parallel roads to cross one each other.

 
 This is my case with 365KGS, an English band into an original form of psychedelic rock: quite different from my usual extreme tastes, but also impossible not to apreciate for their will to create a personal yet pleasant sound. Somewhere in between typical indie song writing, melancholic dark wave mood, a psychedelic background lying behind the horizon and ethnic side-notes.
 
 Storm Rising is able to conquer also someone usually diffident towards alternative music. From the choosen sounds to the song structures, 365KGS let nothing to the fate, on the contrary they work hard to create tracks with a high emotional impact, ballads about everyday people struggles without any "arty" or "snotty" intellectual poses. All in all, they describe themselves as: "4 regular working guys with all the commitments life brings who just want to share our thoughts and expieriences with the world through good music".

We are not talking about music made with an eye to the playlists or to the big major deal, instead this is music able to reveal far more passion and participation than many other famous acts. This is, also, something able to reach immediately a sympathetic mood with the open minded listeners.
 
It's hard to label an album like Storm Rising, somehow next to a mainstream rock shape, while holding strong it's diy attitude and able to gain respect from every audience. 365KGS decided to defy prejudices and stereotypes and, you can trust me, every doubt will fall soon after the high emotional inpact of these tunes.
 
Well worth a  try if you like something different here and there.
 
Michele ( www.audiodrome.it )

Storm Rising Review by Toxic Pete

Well this all worked out quite nicely, didn't it boys! 'Storm Rising' is the debut album by indie rockers 365kgs; a really decent blast of well written and thoughtfully constructed songs.  Poetic rock if you will - a tasty coming together - an album that promises much and delivers it all.

365kgs have been together in this form for a relatively short time and here they show great potential and should be able to move on up somewhat with this tasty album as a weapon of attack. There's good originality in the songs and some very impressive playing. The whole thing's been lovingly assembled and comes packaged in a single card sleeve with nice moody front cover artwork. So, overall 'Storm Rising' hits the mark then. Yes, but there's a but!  Now, I might be being a bit picky but sometimes the vocals are just a little tired sounding; my guess is that the vocalist doesn't have total confidence in his own voice. I feel he's holding back a bit too much because he feels uncomfortable with letting go. However, many of the songs would benefit from just a bit more vocal flair. Hopefully next time the confidence and self-belief will allow him to turn it on good and proper and then 365kgs will be at their best. Minor criticism guys - I hope you take it in the spirit it's meant!!

Ok, that's all the negatives out of the way. 365kgs seem to have a natural ability to write distinctive songs that will stand them apart from many of their rivals - certainly there aint a bad one here so I guess there's more of the same yet to come. The guys allow plenty of light and shade into the mix which adds depth and quality. The occasional use of 'strings' is inspirational and takes their music to a higher level. Soaring guitar work gives a hefty dynamic over and above the acoustic as drums and bass lay down a solid and punctuative foundation.  The guys create a deceptively big sound without ever losing the original plot.   At times 365kgs get pretty close to being prog rock but they probably won't thank me for saying so!!  Actually, the more I listen the more I find and the more I like!!

'Storm Rising' by 365kgs is a crackin' introduction to a very workmanlike and solid band. These guys aren't kids from the block, rather they've been around the block a few times to get where they are now. That experience is evident in the compositional side of 365kgs work - all thirteen songs here are maturely conceived and sensitively played. 'Storm Rising' by 365kgs is a damn fine album that only suffers slightly and occasionally from the lack of commitment in the vocal department - a small issue that I'm sure will be corrected as confidence grows - otherwise, pretty damn excellent!!   I look forward to hearing more from 365kgs - they feel like they could be a bit special!!

Peter J Brown aka toxic pete (www.toxicpete.co.uk)