The Kill - Extended Play
Stereo Recording Co - stereo-001 - 2003
By Philip Whitehouse
Formed in 2000 by former members of Clear, Lyndal Control and Sandkicker, The Kill play an energetic if somewhat generic brand of emotional hardcore (or 'screamo' if you prefer) that recalls a more consistently aggressive Grade, or perhaps something that Cave In might have jammed out in between the Until Your Heart Stops and Jupiter albums.
The vocalist swings from throat-stripping screams to At The Drive In-esque yelped clean vocals while the guitars seesaw madly from rapid-fire riffage to dissonant, jangling noise and back again. Throughout, the drummer keeps the listener on their toes by seemingly effortlessly throwing out bizarre time change after juddering rhythm shift. However, this formula is stuck to pretty rigidly throughout the entire course of this six-track EP, leaving little to be learnt after hearing the first track.
The Kill seem to have some good ideas on them, but they seem to be sadly rather conservative in allowing them to shine through. The moments on the EP where more recent Cave In influences show themselves have definite potential, giving an otherworldly, vaguely psychedelic feel to the music, especially when echo effects are applied to the vocals and the drumming settles down - sadly, the heavier passages don't match the effectiveness of these flashes of potential. Must try harder, I'm afraid - but the potential for growth is most definitely there.
6.5/10
The Kill's Official Website
Stereo Recording Co Website
Stereo Recording Co - stereo-001 - 2003
By Philip Whitehouse
Formed in 2000 by former members of Clear, Lyndal Control and Sandkicker, The Kill play an energetic if somewhat generic brand of emotional hardcore (or 'screamo' if you prefer) that recalls a more consistently aggressive Grade, or perhaps something that Cave In might have jammed out in between the Until Your Heart Stops and Jupiter albums.
The vocalist swings from throat-stripping screams to At The Drive In-esque yelped clean vocals while the guitars seesaw madly from rapid-fire riffage to dissonant, jangling noise and back again. Throughout, the drummer keeps the listener on their toes by seemingly effortlessly throwing out bizarre time change after juddering rhythm shift. However, this formula is stuck to pretty rigidly throughout the entire course of this six-track EP, leaving little to be learnt after hearing the first track.
The Kill seem to have some good ideas on them, but they seem to be sadly rather conservative in allowing them to shine through. The moments on the EP where more recent Cave In influences show themselves have definite potential, giving an otherworldly, vaguely psychedelic feel to the music, especially when echo effects are applied to the vocals and the drumming settles down - sadly, the heavier passages don't match the effectiveness of these flashes of potential. Must try harder, I'm afraid - but the potential for growth is most definitely there.
6.5/10
The Kill's Official Website
Stereo Recording Co Website
