Recent Reviews

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Kinlin: End Of Dissent

Kinlin: End Of Dissent

Modern Melodic Hard Rock
Rating: 4.0/5.0

Independent/Self-Promotion
www.myspace.com/kinlin
Review: Craig Hartranft,  07.26.2009

Though Kinlin's End Of Dissent may be their debut disc, this Florida hard rock crew are hardly newcomers in the music business. Every member Ali Nassar (d), Tom Lynch (g), DeWayne Hart (lv, g), and Dave Thomas (b, bv) have extensive performance and production credits which include work with Dokken, Dio, Halford, Cro-Mags, No Pressure, Aces Wild, and a host of other lesser known regional acts. Hart has his own recording studio, The Barn Recording Studio, where End Of Dissent was recorded and produced.

Additionally, all four players have been significantly influenced by hard rock both classic and modern. Within End Of Dissent you will hear influences from Alice In Chains to Godsmack to Disturbed to Led Zepellin, Rush and possibly a little King's X. However, this platter of modern rock is not as eclectic as this sounds. Rather, End Of Dissent is quite accessible and creative modern rock (no harsh, screamo vocals or 'I'm a loser, screw the world, angst' lyrics) with very strong nods to the best classic melodic rock.

Fine, blistering examples of this nuanced mix can be found across the entire disc. Yet, I was most partial to the following: the opener Forever, my vote for single; the aptly title Marching with its immense rhythm section; the sometimes heavy but ultimately ambitious and versatile End Of Dissent; and heavy and melodic Rapture. This is a short sample of some of the best, but I guarantee you that there is little filler here (though Last Time is a little knotty and annoying).

Kinlin is where current American hard rock should be going: measuring modern trends with old school melodic rock sensibility in a creative mix. Unfortunately, this very course may be Kinlin's downfall simply because current American rock trends settle for the lowest common denominator of conformity rather than intelligence and innovation. For Kinlin's sake, let's hope that this is not their fate.

In Short

Kinlin is where current American hard rock should be going: measuring modern trends with old school melodic rock sensibility in a creative mix. By definition then, End Of Dissent is exactly this, and quite good.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lionville: Supernatural Album Review

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]