Kingswood – Microscopic Wars (Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, "Oxblood" Maroon)

Just when you think you have captured Kingswood’s sound between your sonic fingertips, it’s gone – twisting, changing shape and surprising you once more. Their debut album ‘Microscopic Wars’ is cinematic in scope – from the finer details of percussion to the sweeping storytelling in its lyricism. The recording of their debut album saw the band jet off to Nashville, TN, to Blackbird Studio where it was cut to tape amidst the warmth of analogue and whisky.

Vocalist Fergus Linacre, guitarist Alex Laska, bassist 'Mango' Hunter and drummer Justin Debrincat have been working tirelessly since their inception to hone their craft, self-releasing their debut EP ‘Change of Heart’ in 2012, and singles ‘She’s My Baby’ and ‘Ohio’, both of which enjoyed love from alternative and commercial radio across the country. With their signature rock swagger, DIY spirit and contagious energy, Kingswood have played over one hundred shows in the past year, equally at home on the main stage for Splendour in the Grass or the Big Day Out, as they are playing for the Defense Forces in Afghanistan, or obliterating small clubs and pubs across Australia.

It was this freewheeling spirit, boldness and quest for greatness that saw the band take the drafted record to Nashville to work with Vance Powell at the world renowned Blackbird Studio. Powell, the Grammy Award winning purveyor of obscure and eclectic rock and soul rarities - who has worked with the likes of Jack White, Jeff the Brotherhood and Arctic Monkeys - finished the final cuts live to tape. In the heart of ‘Music City’ Tennessee, the band finished the recording and mixing in Vance’s studio Sputnik Sound, which Alex describes fondly as “Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory of Musical Instruments”.

While there is much of ‘Microscopic Wars’ that conflicts and contrasts, the album in underpinned by its ingenious narrative twists that make it equally able to soundtrack stunt-car-slasher flicks and tender scenes of star crossed- love. ‘Microscopic Wars’ stand out quality is the fervor and passion that each track is delivered with, which is rapidly becoming Kingswood’s trademark.