“When you’re deep in the mess of an existential crisis, the only solution is to dig your way out.”

Thus begins “Kid Two,” the final song of the final EP in Corner Gospel Explosion’s piecemeal concept album “It’s Hard to Be a Kid,” released earlier this month. Even judging solely by the first two EPs in this cycle, the lines could be a mission statement for the entire project, which has found the Parsons brothers — drummer/synth player/vocalist Bradley and bassist Tyler — examining their religious upbringing and its lasting effects on their lives.

In context with the rest of this EP, also titled “It’s Hard to Be a Kid,” the statement is even more on the nose. In many ways, the songs here work as an almost one-to-one response to many of the themes on the first EP in the cycle, “Before They Drag Me to Hell”: Brad wrestling with “sleepless nights afraid of the abyss” in opener “Kid One” calls back to the demons-under-the-bed dread of the first EP’s title track; “Home Group pt. 1” takes a deeper look at the idea of being “Slain in the Spirit” introduced on “Falling Down in Church.”

Whereas the first EP laid out themes and parameters, these songs are the deep dives into the Parsons’ psyches.

The final track listing for the album’s physical release, due out at the band’s May 18 show at Spoken Moto, shakes things up a bit. Most of the second EP, “Education is Actually a Good Thing,” has been relegated to bonus tracks, which tightens up the concept piece of the album (though that does mean losing what might be the best track in this whole cycle, the deeply affecting “Human,” from the main set). Taken in this form, “It’s Hard to Be a Kid” flows much better than the individual EPs, especially in the sonic department. The first EP was weighted toward the catchy, knock-your-socks-off indie rock CoGo is known for, while the other two focused more on atmosphere and lyrics; together, it all feels of a piece.

— Brian McElhiney, The Bulletin