KAATO (Mitch Malloy) – KAATO (2016)

Among the many albums arriving to 0dayrox desk to test – you know, we select for you only the best – sometimes pop-up one unexpected wonder. New band KLAATO features no-other than the great Mitch Malloy in the line-up & producing, and guess what; he’s not the frontman. But darn, KLAATO’s self-titled debut released few days ago is simply fabulous.

Founded (and fronted) by Australian young rocker Kurt Lowney, KAATO came together in 2015 as Kurt began working with Nashville-based producer and veteran rocker Mitch Malloy to write and record the self-titled album.
“From day one, the musical chemistry between Kurt and I was undeniable” says Malloy. Both had grown up listening to and savoring the same musical influences… only Mitch experienced his musical heroes as a kid in realtime, and Kurt was introduced to the classics by his parents.

Singer Kurt Lowney (a relative puppy at age 21) appeared with so good rockin’ songs that Mitch Malloy become an integral part of the band and guitar player and back-up vocals.
Kurt has harbored the dream of KAATO since he was a 16-year-old recording in post-earthquake Japan in 2011. The Japanese called him Kaato (pronounced Kah-toe), meaning Kurt. It was during this time KAATO became Kurt’s performance persona and stage name.
Completing the lineup are Finland-born Mika Nuutinan on bass and drummer Tristan Avakian (as you see, a true international group).
The band’s media kit claims KAATO are “…a mixture of Aerosmith, Boston, Styx and Zeppelin, and all the stuff that just makes you want to get up and dance.”

Yeah, you can hear those influences here, but there’s much, much more than that on “KAATO”. We have elements of bluesy hard rock blues and sleaze, but also heavy funk, glam and poppy melodic rock, all mashed up into one great mix.
The single “High Time” really tells the story of KAATO and how the band sounds. It’s a high energy track with a great guitar line and over the top vocals.
Check the video here, it Rocks!:

Tracks like “SDRnR” (“Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll”) or “Time Stands Still” have a sound and feeling comparable to the recent Devil City Angels. Whereas “It’s All Happening Now” or “I Don’t Love You” are darker and heavier with strains of early Def Leppard in fact.
There’s an incredible emotion coming through in the vocals and guitar playing on “Like a Blade”, in the way Aerosmith used to do it in their glory days.

I love the funky ode to the USA “Only A Day Away” with the lyrics “…The Jack and Coke, four bucks to smoke, any possibility…”. It’s good fun, just like the rockin “You Lose” with its killer slide guitar and wild rhythm section.
“Colder” starts much like classic 70s rock bands but gets new and fresh quickly, with swaggerin’ vocals, steady rhythm section and a cool riff.

I can’t stop listening to KAATO. I’m on my fifth run through already, and have only had it for several hours. I mentioned Devil City Angels, and that’s the closest comparison I can make, but add it all the classic hard / melodic influences you want.
Kurt Lowney / KAATO is a revelation, and the great Mitch Malloy gets out the best of Kurt obviously teaching him one thing or two… Additionally, Malloy’s production is bright & melodious, as you’ll expect.
This not only is a good-time album with the swagger to lighten-up any party, but also has substance, great playing, maturity and yes, darn good rockin’ songs.
One of the best debuts of the year.

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

01 – SDRnR
02 – Time Stands Still
03 – It’s All Happening Now
04 – I Don’t Love You
05 – Clean As A Whistle
06 – Like A Blade
07 – High Time
08 – Guilty Go Free
09 – Only A Day Away
10 – You Lose
11 – Colder

Kurt Lowney – vocals, guitar
Mitch Malloy – guitar, vocals
Tristan Avakian – lead guitar
Mika Nuutinen – bass
additional musicians:
Greg Morrow – drums
Mike Webb – keyboards

BUY IT !
itunes.apple.com/us/album/kaato/id1126217346
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