Materialising from the embers of underground UK bands The Parnell Deception, Pornstar and Phoenix Butterfly in December 2005, these Essex boys really are the embodiment of the DIY band, writing, producing and recording everything themselves, giving a raw and fresh honesty and passion to each of these three taster tracks.

“Flourishes of A Perfect Circle and the ever-intensifying build up of Tool” promised the publicity blurb, and whilst it’s not immediately obvious where this comparison is coming from, it will definitely appeal to both sets of fans (for the record, I would draw a line between Antenna-era Cave In and the above bands, and you’d be on the right track).

On “Fucking to Hiphop”, which races along over chugging and squealing guitars, vocalist Daniel Lodge manages really pissed-off and angelic almost in the same breath, leading the luscious sound of the three piece through a textbook piece of driving rock from the loud-quiet-loud school of thinking.

It’s on “18 Blackhorses” though, that the band really excel.  Building on Eastern-tinged strings, Lodge croons “I’m not expecting to stay” over an increasingly ferocious wall of soaring guitars and vicious drumming. Whether he and the rest of the band have much choice about this once The Kuru Smile’s fan base grows, is another matter…

“Blueprint” wanders slightly more than the other tracks, almost dipping its toes in the pool of summers-day radio-friendliness, with a chirpy, “whoa-oh” of a chorus. There is however always a bubbling guitar or two to keep this slower, softer-starting number honest through to a crashing end.

Pencil in February 2008 as that is when the debut album should be dropping from these guys and it may be worth getting in there first, because if this is a whisper of what the album will be like, it will be huge.

Contact: www.myspace.com/thekurusmile 

Track Listing

Fucking To Triphop
18 Black Horses
Blueprint

Line Up

Daniel Lodge - Vocals/Guitars
Tom Donovan - Bass
Sarge - Drums