‘This Ain’t Kansas Anymore’ is everything that’s always been fantastic about PMKS
Track for this review has a scheduled release of January 20th, 2017. Please check back – you don’t want to miss this! However, please see other tracks by P.K.M.S above.
When one writes as an independent music critic for as long as I have, one will eventually come across acts repeatedly over the years as they grow their repertoire and expand their sound. I was first introduced to Psycho Melodic Kill Switch about two years ago, a feisty Saudi Arabian outfit with eclectic production and bizarre, but splendidly hilarious and tactful lyricism.
A lot has changed since then, but perhaps most notably, Donald Trump was elected president of the United States. Thus, as no strangers to social and political activism in their music, Psycho Melodic Kill Switch are back on the scene with a new single in opposition of the real estate mogul gone president, ‘This Ain’t Kansas Anymore.’ Is the track worth giving a spin this week as the man himself is inaugurated? Absolutely.
It’s only natural that a divisive president the likes of Trump would be the catalyst for a new generation of political protest art. ‘This Ain’t Kansas Anymore’ is an insight into just how far that divisiveness goes: all the way to Saudi Arabia. Trump’s rhetoric sets an interesting precedent on the world stage, and many people are fearful of it, Psycho Melodic Kill Switch included.
‘This Ain’t Kansas Anymore’ is everything that’s always been fantastic about PMKS: crunchy, intense lead guitar, lo-fi production, and deadpan lyricism that’s met with an equal amount of wit and intelligence. PMKS, perhaps predictably, fires shots across the bow not only at Trump, but the people who elected him. “You ain’t got control of your future now,” the band declares over an anthemic chorus.
Party politics aside, they’re not wrong, either. The new commander-in-chiefWhen one writes as an independent music critic for as long as I have, one will eventually come across acts repeatedly over the years as they grow their repertoire and expand their sound. I was first introduced to Psycho Melodic Kill Switch about two years ago, a feisty Saudi Arabian outfit with eclectic production and bizarre, but splendidly hilarious and tactful lyricism.
has proven to deflect influence from just about anyone outside of his own immediate family, making the interests he serves somewhat questionable. PMKS hammers home his racist tendencies and how US politics have changed in a drastic, alien way. (Hence the ‘Wizard of Oz’ reference.)
PMKS also poses a compelling insight. “First they came for the Mexicans, and you said nothing,” the song says, referencing Trump’s anti-Mexican rhetoric. At what point do Americans draw a line in the sand? At what point will Americans look back and ponder whether or not they should have said something?
Trump has often been compared to much more totalitarian leaders. Whether that comparison is apt or not is neither here nor there, but his rhetoric and policies do present a moral quandary for the US and the rest of the world. It’s an excellent thing that groups like PMKS are putting out great singles like this to start those conversations now .
By Brett Stewart
I’m a professional writer and editor, a journalism major, and I have extensive experience in musical review. I worked for two years as the Editor & Chief of an arts magazine, Strike Magazine, where I worked closely with writers and musicians. Through this, I was able to interact with dozens of acts including Heart, Holly Williams, Robert Cray, John Hiatt, and more. The magazine printed thousands of issues and was even recognized by Rolling Stone’s founder, Jann Wenner.
