Review: Kissing Kaos – To Your Limit
Mighty Music – May 1st, 2026
Reviewer – Jason Hopper
Based in the USA, Kissing Kaos was formed from the ashes of Asphalt Valentine. Singer Joe Flynt and drummer Brian Jung united with guitarist Jon Lansburg and current Kickin Valentina bassist Chris Taylor to create a sound that is power pop hard rock with edges of punk.
While that would be an accurate description of their sound, I equate their musicianship to the band Black Diamonds. If you know that band, then you know what’s in store for you. Strangely enough, even the vocals are close in tone to lead singer Mich Kehl.
A couple listens through and there are some clear standouts. My favorites were found at the later half of the album. ‘The Joker’ is a high energy rocker with a sing along chorus that plants its hooks on you and doesn’t let go. I rocked out to this track several times in a row before moving on to the next song. Closer ‘Yesterday’s Kids’ has a mid-tempo, familiar melody line heard in other bands of the era but done well. A solid bridge leading into a harmonious chorus that sticks in your brain. I found myself singing the song in my head days later after not playing the album for a period of time.
Recently released single ‘Hey Sugar’ has an Eclipse vibe to it but with a bit more pop sensibilities. The chorus is a bit simplistic, but melodious enough to be memorable long after the album is over. ‘Heartache and Scars’ falls somewhere between a mid-tempo rocker and a power ballad. It invokes the right amount of pain and grit, doing exactly what a semi-ballad should do for a proper emotional response.
While this is a good album, one thing holding it back from being a great album is the interchangeable choruses. With half of these songs, you can take the choruses of songs and swap them into other songs, and it would easily fit due to their similar tempos.
The album is a breezy 34 minutes of power pop hard rock and a punk undertone. The issue for me is the band sounds too derivative of Black Diamonds, but not as dynamic in their stylings. I was not a fan of the early Black Diamonds releases, but that band evolved and became one of my favorite 80s inspired rock acts. I feel the same thing could happen to Kissing Kaos. This is a band trying to find their sound and I have a suspicion that future albums will be stronger as they gel as a unit.
Tracklisting:
- Hey Sugar
- Tear It Down
- Heartache and Scars
- Can’t Fake Me
- To Your Limit
- Breakthrough
- The Joker
- Chaos Inside
- Yesterday’s Kids
Line-up:
Joe Flynt – vocals
Brian Jung – drums
Jon Lansburg – guitars
Chris Taylor – bass
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