Issue date: 2/13/03 Section: The Verge

Unwittingly copping its name from the moniker of the cult classic  comic book from Oni Press, Austin, Texas' Kissing Chaos skillfully blends hardcore, emo and even metal on "Enter With a Bullet."

Formed in the wake of fellow Austin outfit Pop Unknown, and garnering further hardcore pedigree with ties to the likes of Mineral and Sparta, Kissing Chaos comes off similar in scope to the likes of Quicksand and Planes Mistaken for Stars in lyrical content and musical delivery. Produced by Rory Phillips (of Slowreader, and whose production credits include Recover among others), "Enter With a Bullet" balances polished melody with flashes of hardcore ferocity throughout the course of its scant 15 minutes.

With its first release for Fueled by Ramen, Kissing Chaos expands on an eccentric roster including the dissident likes of Frodus, Mid Carson July and a slew of other groups lacking clear musical delineation or label. Despite its length of a mere five songs, "Enter With a Bullet" is a diverse and powerful record destined to catapult its members past the notoriety brought by the much-beloved Pop Unknown.

"Lost Evidence" kicks off "Bullet" with a mix of hoarse screams and slickly harmonized singing, giving the tune a feel somewhere between hardcore in slow motion and emo. With screeches and melody bleeding liberally together, the song sounds, at times, oddly reminiscent of Thursday without the sniveling. It is in the song's string accompaniment, however, that Kissing Chaos shows its musical range and ability to blend the two so seamlessly in the last minute of the track.

With its metallic, palm-muted opening chug and churning guitars tearing through thudding drums "Enter With a Bullet" still doesn't quite equate to traditional hardcore in tone or tempo, but flexes the group's metal muscles. The track stands out if only for its intricate arrangement and the variety it offers to the EP.

Expanding melodies with echoed vocals and layered guitar, "Communication Discontent" comes off as Sparta-esque as Kissing Chaos again blends rock and emo into a tuneful but fierce song. Likewise, "The Tradition of Betrayal" mixes sentimentality with healthy doses of guitar and pummeling drums. Although not emo in the classical sense, the track shows the members of Kissing Chaos could easily transform themselves into pop darlings tailor-made for radio.

With its intense start/stop dynamics and guttural howls, "The Power of Intent" stands as the only track on "Enter With a Bullet" fully approaching the hardcore aesthetic lyrically, musically or emotionally. Providing the perfect ending to the album, "Intent" finally utilizes the pedigree of the group's members and producer. Ending in a crescendo of feedback, "Intent" compensates for much of the poppier overtones often permeating the album.

Although short, "Enter With a Bullet" offers the next best thing to Pop Unknown and, with time, the group could become a driving force in hardcore if only it can stay together for more than this single five-track EP.

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