Nashville – It has been far too long since we’ve had a real, true, honest-to-god British Invasion: the last one we really had was when the Beatles and the Rolling Stones marched onto American soil as if it was a Revolutionary War reenactment. Given that it’s been roughly fifty years since that happened (and One Direction doesn’t count), I figure it’s high time for a new wave of music from across the pond – and I’ve found the band to lead the march.

To Kill A King, a pop/indie/folk rock band fresh out of London, England, took the stage at Mercy Lounge and played for an intimate group of people, serenading the crowd with pop and rock-riddled tunes that even without the accents would have wooed us. Oftentimes starting off songs with steady drumbeats that sounded like they were literally marching into battle, To Kill A King lured us into falling in love with their music. Had they been wielding weapons of war, we would have surely all perished due to us being completely awestruck by the songs.

Most striking, though, were the harmonies that were utilized. First and foremost, let me make this clear – even though the band has a lead singer, all five members are more than capable of carrying a tune. With distinctly British names like Ralph Pelleymounter, Josh Platman, Ben Jackson, Grant McNeill and Josh Taffel, this quintet put together such haunting voices that the lyrics gave one chills. During one of their songs, the band threw their strength and passion behind the sound, building you up and up and up until – nothing. The sudden drop off was followed by eerie, heart-seizing harmonies that sang out the lyrics “I’m just a dog/Howling”. How can you not like that, when ghostly lyrics are sang with ghostly voices?

I have not even begun to approach the best part of the entire show. Halfway through, the band hopped off the stage and beckoned us all forward.

“If it’s alright with you, we’d like to just play an acoustic song for you,” the lead singer announced. The crowd of course nodded, eager for such a friendly, personal performance. Gathering us around them like they were pitching a song to their best friends, To Kill A King began to play acoustically, all of the members lending their voices to the slow but cheerful song. Breaking out an egg shaker and eventually contributing to the song by clapping their hands and stomping their feet, the entire band created for us an evening I guarantee no one present will ever forget. As they finished to a round of applause, they thanked us profusely for coming. They then hopped back on stage and played several more songs for the crowd before calling it a night.

This was To Kill A King’s first headlining show in America, and after having just come from SXSW, I would say they did a damn good job. Such a humble, truly grateful band is never one to ignore and after giving us such a memorable show, I left truly excited to see them again.

To Kill A King has only begun their domination of the United States. For the first leg of their tour, they’re performing on their own. After the dates of solo shows, To Kill A King will be hopping on to join Bastille for a musical journey throughout North America. The band’s US release of their full-length album, Cannibals With Cutlery, will be on April 22.