When it comes to the emotional pop ballad, The Kixx know a thing or two - their latest single Breathless is about as heartfelt as it gets and seeing it performed live, it sounds even more poignant.
Here's the lads giving the track an airing on ESPN footy show Talk of the Terrace.
Breathless is available to download on iTunes now, accompanied by acoustic and instrumental versions.
'On June 2nd 2009, Cyrus Thatcher was killed whilst on active duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan... Aged 19' - So begins the video for Breathless, the third single from Reading lads The Kixx. With this sombre dedication in mind, this big, anthemic ballad is even more the tear-jerker.
Attired all in black and with instruments in hand, the Kixx remain defiantly apart from their contemporaries: They are the boy band with intent. Their previous singles saw them delving into fiery uptempo electro-pop, but going by Breathless and a number of new tracks I saw showcased at a recent gig of theirs, the band's new direction is far more down the road of rousing guitar-driven numbers.
It's powerful, moving stuff and while Breathless might be overshadowed by the theme of death, it also stands as a true uplifting moment - a call to making the most of life.
Breathless is released on the 7th November.
You can also catch the band on tour at the following venues:
A few weeks ago I saw new band The Kixx supporting Olly Murs on tour at the prestigious Hammersmith Apollo and came away truly impressed by what they had to offer. Their debut single Already Goneis a fizzing, immensely energetic bit of pop/rock and a storming introduction to a group who are sure to be making waves in the music world shortly.
Listening to The Kixx's album sampler, the first thing that strikes you is the sense of energy - like a lightning storm trapped in a bottle and then suddenly let loose.
Tracks like Already Gone are at that moment of release, propelled on a jet-stream of catchy hooks and passion that was plain to see for anyone who caught them on tour. Dashing around the stage, guitars swinging, they played like it wasn't just a support slot, but their own headline show.
A real favourite of mine is Standing Where You Left Me - another massive upbeat track, full of bonkers techno synths, but also a surprisingly real grit to the vocals too.
With lyrics of 'Pretty lies are no concern, when we love we never learn', the song details a pessimistic outlook on the dangers of a fractious relationship. This isn't a Disney-fied sugar and smiles account of love and life, but rather something far more visceral and real.
Another thing The Kixx do really well? Laddy chants - they're stamped all over the album, especially on the punky There She Goes Again.
On a slower note though, there's Breathless, a lush piano ballad with real maturity to it. With a song like this, the crux of it is really believing the band means what they sing, and Breathless feels thoroughly authentic. Throughout the song, and the album as a whole, there are little quirks of melody as well as the overall scale of the sound that really help to elevate this into something truly alive.
When I saw them live at Hammersmith, you got a sense of the real benefit gained from them functioning as a complete band who all play their own instruments and who know exactly what they're doing. There's just a much fuller sound, and that's something reflected here on the album sampler too. Listening to Begin At The End, there's a satisfying throb of the bass in the verses, a real crunch to the guitar in the chorus - a musical intricacy that you just don't get with other boy bands.
A lot of comparisons have already been made with bands like Busted or McFly, but in truth the similarities don't really go much further than that they're all groups of guys playing catchy pop/rock tunes.
The Kixx's sound is their own and where they really shine is that they seem to have really pinned down what that unique sound is for them. Whereas other bands might spend their first album or two trundling along in first gear, The Kixx are already kicking it up to fifth.
