A Love Hate Masquerade

iTunes Review

Those who think that Christian bands can’t be as angst-filled as their secular counterparts need to check out Kids In The Way’s A Love Hate Masquerade (2007). This Indianapolis-based combo pumps out tough, jittery rock with just enough melodic bounce to keep the blood surging. On their third album, the Kids are feeling cranky, particularly about relations with the opposite sex. David Paul Pelsue brings a defiant edge to his lead vocals, tempering his snarls with emo-accented yearning. These tracks offer a litany of bruised emotions — from the sarcastic portraiture of “Sugar” to the bleak ruminations of “Winter Passing,” the bad side of love is fully explored. “I just might be my own worst enemy,” Pelsue speculates in “My Little Nightmare” — certainly, no one gets off easy here. What’s interesting is how flashes of the band’s faith color such pessimistic sentiments. The hope of heavenly peace is expressed in “Farewell,” and “Better Times” can be heard as a desperate prayer to God. Still, fear and confusion predominate, pummeled home in “Far From Over,” “We Kill at Twilight” and similar tunes. A Love Hate Masquerade makes it clear that believers fight their own demons — and can rock as hard as anyone.