20 minutes of kingsize genius
Britain's underground metal scene is rapidly blossoming into a breeding ground for excellent metal acts, and Kingsize Blues are another band that will further disprove the theory that British metal died in the 80s. Kingsize Blues consists of a duo of guitar players, presenting the band with an exciting opportunity to combine the classic burning riff work of metalcore with the more dynamic leads and solo work of traditional metal bands.
Indeed, "Live Fast and Die" is such a clever blend of metals from all eras, that it's suprising that such a relatively young band could produce something so mature. The album becomes even more impressive considering the band are only a year old, yet the first track "Grief Stricken" sounds like the result of years of experience as a band.
Sadly, "Live Fast And Die" is only twenty minutes long, consisting of four tracks, but regarding Kingsize Blues it really is all about the live show. Constant promotion of their demo materials and persistant gigging has granted the band a rabid fanbase, so much so that the band were set to play an hour long set on the Bloodstock Darwin Suite stage this year. Sadly the band couldn't make it to the show, much to the dismay of a suprising amount of people. The band recently headlined a sold-out show at the Underworld in London - an incredibly impressive feat for a very new metal band.
This album is a delightful opus, a rare treasure that needs to be heard by a lot more people. Fans of Shadows Fall, Died Smiling or pretty much any metal act will find something here to really enjoy.