Band Kickass Released Debut EP Life = OVER

The Salt Lake City-based trio dropped their first EP in May 2026.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Rock

Abstract editorial illustration of a guitar silhouette against mountain peaks in navy and sage, evoking 90s rock poster aesthetics.
Salt Lake City rock trio Kickass released their debut EP, Life = OVER, in May 2026, marking the group's first major musical project. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Salt Lake City rock band Kickass released their debut EP titled Life = OVER in May 2026. The group consists of members Kyle Ashcraft, Jack Hamilton, and Jayden Christensen.

Why it matters

The EP title draws inspiration from a personal comment made by Christensen about a peer choosing to marry directly after graduating high school. This release marks the first major project for the trio who live and write music together in a shared Salt Lake City household.

The band currently maintains a household of 3 roommates to facilitate their collaborative songwriting process. The group consists of Kyle Ashcraft, Jack Hamilton, and Jayden Christensen.

The players

Kyle Ashcraft

He is a member of the band Kickass who has been friends with Jayden Christensen since the seventh grade.

Jack Hamilton

He is a member of the band Kickass and lives in a shared household with his two bandmates.

Jayden Christensen

He is a member of the band Kickass and provided the inspiration for the band's EP title through a personal observation.

Kickass

This is a rock band consisting of three roommates who take their name from a song by Midwest Pen Pals.

The details

Kyle Ashcraft serves as the primary songwriter, presenting guitar compositions to Hamilton and Christensen for group collaboration. The band name itself serves as a nod to a song by the group Midwest Pen Pals.

Timeline

  1. The band released their debut EP Life = OVER in May 2026.

  2. The group plans to drop their new song Line Leader in October 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The band draws inspiration from the Midwest Pen Pals catalog, illustrating how emerging acts often signal their sonic influences through naming conventions. This practice highlights the ongoing importance of indie-scene lineage in the current rock landscape.

Fans can listen to the debut EP, Life = OVER, which is currently available following its May 2026 release. Listeners looking for new material from the trio should anticipate the arrival of their next single, Line Leader, later this year.

The takeaway

The band prioritizes a collaborative environment by living together to streamline their creative process. This model allows for consistent songwriting sessions, particularly with Ashcraft leading on guitar compositions.

What happens next

The band is scheduled to release their follow-up song, titled Line Leader, in October 2026.

Further reading

Explore more local emerging music in the Rock section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by SLUG Magazine - Salt Lake UnderGround.