Album Notes

Sound the alarm. Appropriately titled, the first full-length album from King’s Fools insistently catches attention at first listen. Well-seasoned veterans having opened for Hillsong United and already performed before thousands, King’s Fools delivers a powerful and passionate attack in their long-awaited debut release. With help from Danny Kwak from Yesan Damen and John Wu from Riding Paper Airplanes, King’s Fools has presented a work that is instantly engaging and memorable.

The band’s ambitions are plainly evident in the opening notes of the leadoff track, Anything in This World. In a word, the sound of the band is huge. Layer upon layer of guitars and ambient sounds are built upon the solid foundation set by drummer Paul Cho and bassist Hun Kim. The band’s sound relentlessly presents the listener with new paths to explore and discover with each listen. It would almost be overwhelming, if it weren’t for the amazingly solid vocal performance from lead singer and songwriter Joey Wandler. Wandler’s voice soars above the lush background and lends an instant, urgent intensity to each track.

The title track, Sound the Alarm, reveals a combination of aggressiveness and earnestness that is rarely heard in contemporary rock. As the cry goes out, “Here we come / like a flood”, the verses reveal, “Love is our weapon / this love it never ends”. The band’s penchant for stadium-filling rock is also powerfully on display in Satellite and I Want to Know You. Skillfully, the aggression and power of these songs is contrasted in the heartfelt sincerity of O How You’ve Won My Heart and Jesus I Love You.

As an album, Sound the Alarm presents a revolution to the listener – both in sound and lyrical content. Appealing on both levels to the heart of listeners, King’s Fools debut release will effectively capture a wide and diverse array of audiences.