4 out of 5

Label: Init Records

Produced by: Various

Both The Atlas Moth and Ken Mode meet in the middleground of their various hardcore styles for a couple of solid singles.

AM’s chugga-chugga metal stylings come across as more hard-edged on The 6th Passenger is Death, with Stavros’ vocals particularly threatening. While maybe not as lurching and dynamic as later efforts, this is a ripping song, thanks to some dramatic keys across its chorus and a good stop-and-start vibe between that and the verses, the track given a deep, rich recording and mix from Andrew Ragin and Lasse Lamert.

KEN Mode’s track is fun, but the less distinctive of the two, with Jesse’s pit-a-pat singing here more reminiscent of latter day Daughters, and the riffage pretty straightforward hardcore punk. It’s also definitely a solid track, with typical brutal vitriol in the lyrics – always a KM highlight, for the mixed brusque and literate way feelings are expressed, though these are particularly youthy and angsty – but overall, if this was your first KEN track, it might not lure you to hear more. Knowing the band, though, this is a great addition, kind of appreciably straight to the point.

Side note: crazy, awesome art from Ben Duncan.