Track of the Day: King Cujo – Down Here
I always find it odd to think the mid-2000s were almost 20 years ago. Two decades – a fully functioning human’s lifetime. It makes me feel old, but I also remember the fantastic backdrop to my 20s with one drop in the ocean being the band Cujo. Unfortunately, Cujo took a turn after the tragic passing of original member James Norton in 2000 and the lads packed it up in 2007. Kevin Dawson (vocals and guitar), Ben Keep (bass) and Jamie Hook (drums) would meet just three times over 13 years to commemorate Norton. Skip forward about 15 or 16 years and Cujo is back as King Cujo – a force to be reckoned with.
Adopting a hard rock sound, King Cujo bring a nostalgic heaviness to the hard-hitting song. Bold and brash with pounding drums bringing up the rear, ‘Down Here’ is a slap in the face and punch to the gut with true rock rhythms. Personally, my favourite part of the song is Dawson’s stripped-down guitar solo leaning toward Eric Clapton with a tinge of Three Days Grace in the mixture. Then again, they gained their chops as a bold, energetic group winning awards and playing with established bands in the 2000s; so, is there really a reminiscence to other artists or is this track a unique, completely King Cujo sound? I’m leaning toward the latter.
Just as the melody can hold its own with the powerful, heart-pounding arrangement, King Cujo’s depth can be heard in the poetic lyricism. The band explain that ‘Down Here’ “…was written after lockdown ‘1 after a series of jams the band had after reforming. A mix of lockdown, Brexit, middle age and anger at the UK Government culminated in some of the band’s most vitriolic, anxiety-induced songs.”
Rattling about your brain and intoxicating you with angsty vocals, aggressive drums and belligerent guitars, King Cujo are shining gems in a sonic pool of pebbles.
For more from King Cujo, check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
