Most observers of the rock music world are now agreeing that brit-pop was a fad with only a short lifespan. For years before the genre exploded, however, some bands were playing a style of music that has been thrown into the brit-pop pile.  Kato is one such band - mixing elements of punk, pop, and traditional rock to generate a sound which certainly wouldn't seem out of place in the charts, but sounds more interesting than a lot of the dross that does actually make it into the wider marketplace. 

Previously known as K, the band has built up a large enough fanbase to warrant this being their fourth professional recording, and that experience shows. The lyrics are confidently delivered from vocalist Keith Ayling (who also wrote them). They deal with themes taken from everyday life, some (but not all) of which allude to the band's Christian faith. 

The band may need to be moving on if they're to stay current, but they are certainly good at what they do, and this six track EP also suggests the quality of their live show (which is a good one). 

By James Stewart