KOYO - WOULD YOU MISS IT?
Koyo present an album for the broken youth in an exceptional debut that is sure to leave an impression.
Following their amazing performance at Outbreak Festival 2023, and the release of a string of fantastic singles including 'Life’s a Pill', and 'You’re on the List (minus one)' it was safe to say that Would You Mis It? was shaping up to be one of the most anticipated debut albums in a very long time. And albeit with a hint of repetitiveness throughout, Koyo have hit the mark they set out to achieve, leaving room for improvement that they can easily reach in future releases.
The structure of the album as a whole, while being what one could expect, works in it’s favour. No song overstays it’s welcome, with the longest track here standing at just over three minutes. The outstanding riffs that grip you from the first few seconds accompanied by lead vocalist Joseph Chiaramonte’s signature gravelly undertones serve for some unforgettable tracks, with the most notable being ‘You’re on the List' and ‘Flatline Afternoon'. Alongside this, Koyo have perfectly chosen the artist features on this album, ranging from post-hardcore legends Glassjaw’s Daryl Palumbo, to Vein.fm’s Anthony DiDio. At just over 31 minutes it’s compact, concise, and provides it’s listener with a short and sweet experience that will leave them yearning for more.
Themes of regret, nostalgia, broken relationships and friendships are apparent throughout the album, creating a down to earth and relatable listen, especially for today’s generation of young adults. The first lyric in opening track '51st State’ expressively states “How’d it get so bad?” and perfectly sets the tone for what is to follow. Would You Mis It? feels like an autumn album, aiming to tackle this time period’s stress, melancholy and overall tension, through a mixture of hardcore and classic pop-punk vocals, riffs and comforting lyrics.
The one focal point of the project however, is its comfort zone within the sound it has settled in. There are many moments in which creativity blossoms through the brilliant drum patterns, vocal harmonies and changes, and catchy riffs. However it would have been nice to see more of this throughout the project, with a few tracks feeling similar during the course of this eleven song album.
A staple ending comes in the form of ‘Crushed’, which touches upon the subject of one sided relationships, a topic which while rarely mentioned in the music industry, is very much apparent in real life. While carrying a melancholic undertone, it is a fitting end to an exceptional debut, and one of the best songs on Would You Mis It?
Koyo have put themselves on the map for good with their debut album. Despite a few missteps in terms of similar sounding cuts, it is clear to see that they have poured their heart and soul into this project, and their evolution as a band will be exciting to witness. Would You Mis It? wears it’s heart on it’s sleeve with no remorse, creating a melodic hardcore outlet for emotional support during a melancholic autumn.
Dan Tsourekas
★★★★☆