Jake’s Mistakes Follow Up 2020 EP with ‘KAI: Impius Amans’
Expanding on their popular string of KAI-focused EP’s Jake’s Mistakes have officially released KAI: Impius Amans, the follow-up to their 2020 EP KAI: Creaturae. Just as the 2020 entry into the KAI series focused on the negative emotions inside oneself - such as anxiety, depression, and general toxicity - KAI: Impius Amans now brings these perspectives into the context of relationships and the struggles that can arise.
“Digits” sets the eerie and dark tone for the rest of the EP, featuring quiet and distorted vocals over an out-of-place ukulele. Transitioning into the lead single for the project, “Motive For Obsession”, we get the first real taste of the instrumental style you can expect throughout the entirety of the EP; droning guitars and a raspy vocal style you might expect from atmospheric black metal projects, but with an overall pace and aesthetic of a Ghost. Later tracks, such as “Miss Therapist”, emphasize the haunting and eccentric elements of the band, sounding similar to that of an early Ozzy Osbourne.
Lyrically, Jake’s Mistakes detail the struggles and turmoil of dealing with a toxic relationship. “Motive For Obsession” uses references to Romeo and Juliet as a metaphor for a lack of closure that can bring someone to the edge of sanity. “Run run Romeo / Never trust a Juliet / She's got your heart in her hands" is probably one of my favorite lines in the whole EP,” says vocalist Jacob Ekleberry. “It shows that Romeo has put all his trust in Juliet, but he's scared. Juliet holds the power to crush him at anytime, and that's exactly what she does.” Elsewhere, “Prince Charming” continues the narrative of toxic relationships and how people will change themselves to fit the expectations of their partner, while “Miss Therapist” and “Spider Web” confront the character that is KAI and their influence on the victim they’ve embodied.
With their KAI EP series, Jake’s Mistakes have crafted a world in which they can discuss difficult topics in an elaborate and thought-provoking story through the perspective of the character KAI. In this manner, the band acts as a vessel to tell the stories of the character, rather than placing the dark and haunting themes in the context of their own lives. Considering the nature of the stories, this is certainly easier to wrap your ones mind around.
Be sure to check out the full KAI: Impius Amans EP wherever you get music, and stay up-to-date with Jake’s Mistakes for whatever may come next from KAI.