Kids in the Way - "Apparitions of Melody"(Flicker Records, 2005)

For those who say there's nothing good happening in Indiana, I offer Apparitions of Melody as a counter-argument. Kids in the Way, formed in Indianapolis back in 1997, have produced two small-label albums. This, their sophomore effort, is a seamless melding of the emo and metal ethos -- some call it "screamo" but I find that term distasteful -- giving listeners an album full of ear-catching hooks worthy of a national media blitz.



Blending the sounds of Yellowcard, Fall Out Boy and Thrice into a sound that bears their own distinct stamp, members of Kids in the Way have gone where few others in their genre have gone, and in the process they actually managed to write some interesting lyrics to boot. That might explain how they managed to win the Fuse-sponsored My Space Video Contest, while earning more than half a million My Space listens.

Now that's worth a look, wouldn't you say?

The album's full of potential singles. "Safety In The Darkness" has a pounding backbeat, grinding guitars and vocals that rival anyone on the radio today in the pop/punk style; it's a song that made me forget about Fall Out Boy's "Sugar, We're Going Down" in about ten seconds. "There's nothing I can say to build these bridges back," Dave Pelsue sings emphatically, "against the tides that washed them away; the life has left this room." When I saw the band's album labeled with the screamo kiss of death, I nearly passed it by. Songs like this suggest the band should avoid that moniker like the plague. This is solid pop punk with a metal edge, and it's better than anything I've heard all year in that regard.

The band has chosen to release "Apparitions of Melody" as the main single from the album, and it's a fine choice, a solid introduction to the band's sound. But I have to say, the album tracks are often as good or better than the ones considered radio-worthy. "Even Snakes Have Hearts" blends Jimmy Eat World with Slipknot screams, as Perdue spits his version of truth like venom: "So kiss my face, commit yourself to treason ... you broke my heart -- I hope it's worth the price you paid." Upon first glance the song would appear to be another emo-ish ode to teenage love lost. But on another level it's Christ's torment upon having been marked by Judas before his trial and crucifixion. That "layer upon layer" structure of the songs lends itself perfectly to repeat listening, and makes this album a true find.

Yes, the members of Kids in the Way are Christians, though they have publicly eschewed the idea that a band ever records "Christian" music. Apparitions of Melody is a dark album, an aural treasure chest full of songs that will redefine the way you look at pop/punk and CCM music in general. It was recorded by a band intent on making the best music possible, and if it has elements of their religious beliefs embedded within, that's hardly a reason to push them aside as didactic. The band is not afraid to tackle dark subjects in an original manner, and that the songs are as mind-bendingly addictive as the biggest top 40 climbers of their genre is an indication of how far they could, and should, be able to go with the right promotion. If their lyrics make you think about something more than sex, drugs and rock and roll, more power to them.

Band Links
http://www.kidsintheway.com
www.myspace.com/kidsintheway
Check out "Seed We've Sown," "Apparitions of Melody," "Safety in the Darkness" and "This Could Be The Song That Will Change Your Heart" on MySpace. The album can be purchased online from the band's official site, or can be streamed and purchased on Napster.