Named after legendary comedian Sam Kinison, this frenetic Oblong, Illinois based quintet have garnered critical acclaim and stunning industry buzz, all generated by their own independent work ethic and a little guidance by Casey Chaos. After handing the Amen founder a tape during a local concert, the band soon found themselves sleeping on his floor and recording the humorously titled "I Hate Black Sabbath" demo with the esteemed vocalist assisting in production. Labels came crawling, enamored by the group's recognizable sound, yet The Kinison were patient, eventually signing with Fearless Records to release their debut EP, the outstanding post-hardcore opus "Mortgage Is Bank".

Balancing a sound that is equally comparable to The Icarus Line as it is At The Drive-In, The Kinison create seismic sound implosions, forcibly pulling the listener into their melody saturated world of caustic punk. The band show a preternatural ease at crafting spastic pop confections, instilling each song with unavoidably melodious hooks that implant themselves deep into your memory. Most of the songs offered here are concise and straight to the point, urging listeners to get energized and dance in synch with their quirky screamo selections, yet "The Way I Used To Be" shows the desire to be more than a simple scene anthem. Chris Lewis' passionate expulsions somehow simultaneously convey heartfelt sincerity, sarcastic sympathy and rebellious outrage, and the group do a flawless job of acclimating themselves to his vocal nuances. "The Kinison's Area 53" is the album's most relentless cut, yet it is here that Chaos' domineering influence reveals itself, resulting in a tone of snide indifference, and the addition of backing vocals leaves Lewis sounding strained in comparison. As is, this happens to be one of the most engaging, exciting and enjoyable EP's to be released in the past year, providing the group with an avenue to reach beyond the underground scene and ensnare fans of hardcore, emo, punk and indie rock alike.

This EP clearly documents The Kinison's limitless potential, as they aptly prove just how dynamic and original post-hardcore can truly be if one puts forth the effort. Chaos' flair for coarse punk production lends itself to the group's ravenous musical hunger, yet also aids in drawing out the band's infectious pop sensibilities. Their remarkably strong song-writing and keen attention to detail reveal a band that is uncharacteristically well-developed and focused for this stage in their evolution. With all that said, throughout the duration of this unfortunately brief EP, you get the clear sense that this is a band that thrives on the live experience, as every song has sing-a-long elements that surely must invoke crowd participation at it's most frantic and disjointed (most notably in the feverish chorus of "Hey Hey Hey"). Although they're still quite young and their influences remain readily apparent, this is a group that is on the very cusp of international stardom, making "Mortgage Is Bank" a vitriolic debut from a band that smugly sneers in the face of the mainstream.