Kirkby Kiss- Four Color Black

Label: Protagonist Music

Released 2025

Kirkby Kiss’s Four Color Black is a breathless, unrelenting dive into the chaotic, cathartic heart of melodic hardcore. From the opening blast of “Safety Dance,” the Jersey Shore five-piece transcend genres with precision, leaping from Born Against-style fury to Orchid’s emotional turbulence, then shifting effortlessly into more melodic complexity—all in just the first few songs. The album pulls unexpected punches like the howling violin riffs by Ben Karas (SlaughterSun/Thank You Scientist) on “Come Out and Play”. The band tears through 11 songs recorded at Frost Gauntlet Studio in Lyndhurst, NJ, with Karas behind the board and guest spots from Jeff “JJ” Janiak of Discharge, Andrew Moreski of Hard 2 Kill, Matthew Messina of Medicinal, JP Parsons of False Fed and more. The collaborative writing style of vocalist Natale Amato, drummer Frank Burdynski, bassist Thomas McGreevy, and guitarists Michael Ramirez and Michael Shepherd, allowed each member’s voice and in9uences to shape the music, resulting in a sound that feels intensely intimate yet universally resonant. Lyrically, Four Color Black confronts personal trauma and systemic struggles that affect many—but it also offers a sense of hope through shared experience. When you scream into the void, Kirkby Kiss screams back with recognition and purpose, letting you know you’re not alone. This is not just a must-listen, it’s a full-body experience.

Track Listing:

Heads

1. A1 Safety Dance
   
2. A2 Are You Deaf
   
3. A3 You And Me
   
4. A4 Long Way Home
   
5. A5 Come Out And Play
   
6. A6 Four Color Black
   
7. A7 Hymns From Hemmorrhage
   Tails 
   
8. B1 Just Us
   
9. B2 Mi Hombre
   
10. B3 Move
    
11. B4 Am I Seeing This Clearly
    
12. B5 Well Fed Fuck