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Scary Kids Scaring Kids
‘After Dark’

There is nothing remotely scary about Scary Kids Scaring Kids’ debut EP, which is ironic given the band’s name and graphic element — a man covered in blood whose eyeballs look like they’re popping out — on the album cover.

But that’s a good thing. Though they’re often referred to as a “scream-o” band, the group keeps the screaming to a minimum and is reminiscent of national rockers like Thrice, Thursday and Finch thanks to their radio-friendly melodies, haunting guitar riffs and lead singer Tyson Steven’s piercing vocals.

The six-track album kicks off with a vengeance with the powerful “What’s Up Now?” which features a spine-tingling synth that sounds like something out of a horror movie. Other highlights include the introspective “Locked In” and stunning closer “My Knife, Your Throat,” a song about a relationship gone awry.

The only downside about the EP is that it’s over in a mere 30 minutes. A

— by Kelly Wilson