kennel panic - the johny silver EP

kennel panic

The Johnny Silver EP
self-released; 2014

3.1 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

I’m definitely digging the album cover that kennel panic have for The Johnny Silver EP even if it seemingly has nothing to do with the music. Look at that guy he looks so sotic and rusitc.

Kennel Panic formed in 2012 as a four-piece cover band in Cambridge, UK and along the way decided to just start writing their own songs. They released an EP in 2012 called The Pandamonium in which they felt the songs were generic sounding. Unfortunately, that was one of the words that came to mind when I listened The Johnny Silver EP. The music isn’t bad. It’s actually well written and thought the production was above average. In fact I thought everyone in the band was mighty talented. The vocalist could sing and the guitar riffs were delivered well. Even with that the band currently has a sound that will meld into the fog of an oversaturated market that gets harder and harder to penetrate.

I don’t even really know how to classify this band other than rock. There are some hints of classic rock, punk and hard rock but It also sounds too commercially viable to be called indie rock.

One thing I can say is that they can bring a good amount of energy to the songs. “Minus Nine” is arguably the highlight of the three songs. You can hear the vocalist shredding his vocal chords as he sings “Gotta hand it to you, got me going insane There is nowhere to look cos I've tried every single place I'm stopping you dead or alive, going full-on minus nine Going full-on minus nine”

The beginning of “Confess” sounds a bit like Rage Against The Machine before they implement palm muting and 90’s alternative style lead guitar. The band closes with “Corner of a Padded Cell” which contains more hard hitting rock.

I’m rooting for this band cause it seems like they are putting everything they have into their song. The reality is that they are going to have to find other elements which define their sound. As of right now it’s really not there yet but that doesn’t mean they should get discouraged. I have to imagine crossing over  from a cover band  may have had something to do with finding their own  sound. The more they focus on original songs the more likely it is that their own essence will emerge.

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