Boy Kill Boy

I love this album. Boy Kill Boy will definitely be one to keep an eye on if this cracking debut Civilian is anything to go by. With lyrics full of depth – not the contrived “depth” that many younger of the new generation of British bands are guilty of writing in an attempt to sound sensitive and meaningful – but for some reason there is something genuine in Chris Peck's voice. In a similar vein to Muse or Placebo, you really listen to what he is singing.

Peck's vocal emulates that of Julian Cope circa The Teardrop Explodes typically building to a crescendo over the chorus where he sounds like he is losing himself in his music. And so he should.

More modern references, brought out in the backing vocals, include Bloc Party or Maximo Park on a couple of tracks, but I think these guys have rather more strong songs on the album than the aforementioned.

Standouts are opener Back Again – a blend of The Jam and Cope on Kilimanjaro, On & On, and the killer first single Suzie. Civil Sin is great as well. There are elements of Shed 7, surprisingly, though this is probably coincidental, on some of the poppier tracks.

Peck, hailing from East London, has adopted the staccato device in his vocal on a couple of tracks reminiscent of early ska-meets-mod bands, or that of the Kaiser Chiefs more recently.

There is a nice combo of romantic reflection, misery, remorse and general heartfelt storytelling on this album that provide reasons aplenty to rush out and buy it.