Your war is not with me. A motto I’m tempted to use against readers who don’t like my reviews. It’s also, and so obviously more importantly, the slogan favoured by War Child, a charity set up to help children marginalized by war.

Leytonstone’s favourites Boy Kill Boy couldn’t agree more. As they’ve dedicated this single to War Child and also added their name to a soon-to-be-announced London benefit gig. Chris Peck, BKB’s front man can even claim first-hand experience of one of the charity’s targeted areas, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As Peck reveals: “Back in '95 I was lucky to spend a couple of months in Uganda with a home-grown organisation called 'The Ruwenzori Project'. There, me and 15 others worked on an environmental programme in the Ruwenzori jungle which borders Uganda and the D.R.C. With this and through visiting neighbouring schools and orphanages I had a pretty up-close experience of war's devastation on the community, especially the kids. Those stories have since stayed with me so now I'm delighted to have anything to do with War Child and their long-term vision.”

If their album Civliian, as described by the band’s label, is “a mix of punky pop, soaring rock anthems and piano-led ballads”, ‘Shoot Me Down’, which closes their debut, veers more towards the latter than the former. Peck and co slow it right down. In the process, releasing their most emotive single to date.
(3¾/5)