KAATO sees the bringing together of frontman Kurt Lowney who upon relocating from Sydney to Nashville, hooked up with melodic rock greatness in Mitch Malloy who features as KAATO guitarist, producer, songwriter. Mitch had already had a US Top 40 hit and had momentarily found himself to be singer of Van Halen before Kurt was even born, but despite the generation gap, this album sees them fuse together their mutual appreciation of the classic rock greats to create a brand of rock n roll that is uniquely KAATO.
The opening double shot of SDRR (Sex Drugs Rock N Roll) and Time Stands Still sees the band in full flight, straight ahead rock n toll, honky tonk piano lines, blazing guitars and some glorious harmony backing vocals. It’s just simply good time rock n roll that can’t be denied. Throw lead single High Time into that mix and this is the KAATO sound that my ears gravitate to most. There’s however a darker and grittier vibe to the band that seeps through in Guilty Go Free and It’s All Happening – which is latter day Crashdiet fused with a guitar riff that wouldn’t sound out of place on Night Songs era Cinderella.
Also rounding out KAATO is Mika Nuutinen and guitarist Tristan Avian, a name some of you might recognise from early 90’s melodic rock band Red Dawn, amongst others. Both get a chance to cut loose on the rambling I Don’t Love You which is where the real 70’s influences come to the surface. KAATO however comes from more of a traditional 80’s style of hard melodic rock, rather than treading down the path of the likes of Rival Sons,The Temperance Movement, Inglorious etc…a bit more more akin to The Dead Daisies if we wanna play name dropping.
They’ve got the big grandiose ballad covered with Like A Blade, which kept me anticipating the gospel choir to kick in. It didn’t quite happen, but hey, when you’ve got Mitch Malloy’s upper register vocals in the mix, things are kinda covered in that space. Kurt himself actually shares some similar vocal traits to Malloy, of the upper register.
Legend has it the guys have a pretty kick ass live show, which those of you in UK and parts of Europe may catch them supporting Mitch Malloy. There’s a lot of great rock releases doing the rounds at the moment, but if you’re into melodic rock n roll loaded with hooks and harmonies, don’t let this debut album from KAATO pass you by.
TRACKLIST
SDRnR
Time Stands Still
It’s All Happening Now
I Don’t Love You
Clean as a Whistle
Like a Blade
High Time
Guilty Go Free
Only a Day Away
You Lose
Colder
