Mind Equals Blown

Kiros Lay Your Weapons Down

Alt/Rock | Ain't No Grave Records

MEB Rating:

7.0

User Rating:

7.0

1 Ratings

Believe it or not, Kiros is still around ladies and gentlemen. Taking five years between albums can be pretty daunting for listeners, but the band already proved with 2007’s A Single Strand that five years allotted enough time to concoct a recipe for success, vastly improving from their 2002 debut. But, as the band had remained silent until late last year with their sub-par EP Outlaws and Prodigals, I was worried. With their third full-length, however, those worries were laid to rest with a set of tunes that ignite the Christian rock scene, though I wish it hadn’t taken them five years to make it.

Kiros has a sound that easily attracts listeners from multiple genres – punk, rock, alternative, indie, and even metal. Their heavier songs bring remnants of more metallic artists like Saosin and even bands like old school Hawk Nelson, while their softer tracks punctuate more along the lines of Kutless. Lay Your Weapons Down is overall more diverse and captivating than Kiros’ previous works, but it still seems a bit restrained for a band that had years and years to process their thoughts and produce something enticing.

This record has the slow ballads, the punkish anthems, and the fun sing-alongs. It kicks off with some catchy rockers, while a few slower songs here and there give listeners time to take in Kiros’ pop-punk/alt-rock sound. “Outlaws And Prodigals” is extremely satisfying, emitting jaw-dropping melodies, a succulent chorus dominated by angelic strings and acoustic guitar, and a sweeping tone that is as beautiful as it is outspoken. It’s one of the band’s more faith-based songs (they’re a Christian band that rarely sounds too preachy or stale), and it seriously blew me away.

I wish I could say that with all of the other tracks. Though power chord-happy songs like the energetic The Classic Crime-esque “One Thing” and “Good Intentions, Bad Directions” shine with their glimmering melodies and positive lyrics, they don’t do anything new or exciting to those anticipating something with twists and turns. Despite this lack of originality, I still found plenty of enjoyment in most of the tracks, as they were as solid as it gets. “Unshaken” is a personal favorite, where singer Barry Mackichan bolts out the lines “We are, we are, we are unshaken / we are, we are, we are wide awaken,” a true testament that touched me deeply.

As a whole, Lay Your Weapons Down is the band’s most tightly knit record, and it’s probably their most solid. I just wish it didn’t take them so long to make, as I had been waiting for this release forever. Though I was fairly satisfied with the overall execution of both soft and heavy songs, I was also a bit distraught by the lack of personality and uniquity that Kiros displays; but then again, they’ve never been a genre-defining act. That being said, I still quite enjoyed Lay Your Weapons Down, as it is a record that is easy to pick up and find fulfillment in.

Author: Tim Dodderidge View Staff Page for Tim Dodderidge

I’m a guy that has always loved music and writing, and there’s nothing cooler than seeing the two fused together. In addition to being editor-in-chief of my high school’s newspaper, I am the head editor of their website, and I even started my own review site, titled The Review Spider. Besides all of that, I also do cross country and track, am an avid sports fan (go Royals!), and I’m addicted to playing Xbox and Wii. Shoot me an e-mail sometime; I love discussing music!

(1 votes, average: 7.00 out of 10)

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