(Wil Cifer has caught up to a debut EP by the British band Kill By Mouth, and enthusiasticaly recommends it in the following review.)
The biggest hindrance to the thrash revival has been how tied to ’80s nostalgia it is, while the bands that defined the genre got the memo and progressed. This plays into why a band like Power Trip made such an impact, because they were not trying to dial in the sound, but took the sound of modern hardcore and made great thrash albums with it. This British band, Kill By Mouth, wisely do not try to turn back time, but find their own place in the genre. They do this by blending some of the darker corners the genre had evolved into by the time the ’90s rolled around.
This EP was released back in March, so went under the radar, but is a worthy entry in today’s thrash scene and deserves more recognition. Pre-nu-metal-leaning Prong can be heard in the thunderous syncopation they kick into at this album’s powerful onset.The vocals are howled in a baritone bark to accent the commanding grooves they deal in. They also keep things at a deliberate headbanging tempo rather than getting lost in breakneck punk frenzies. This can be heard in the chug of “228“. They use admirable restraint and never give into the urge for speed that might forsake the purpose of the songs. This makes for catchier songs, though you can still hear the influence of both S.O.D and Sepultura here, but without the devotion that solely pays homage to an era.
The bulk of their energy here is invested in songwriting. They have the chops to pull this off but are not trying to have the most pummelling double bass or the fastest Kerry King like solos, instead the guitar solo on “228” is very melodic and provides depth rather than just a spastic burst of dexterity.
“Johnny Volcano” finds the band continuing to follow an increasingly melodic path, as an eerie atmosphere precedes the more bludgeoning crunch that recalls post-Seasons Slayer. The vocals are gruffer and propelled by an anger that might bring to mind a band like Integrity here. In the closing moments of the song, the vocals are sung rather than bellowed, which is an effective placing of added vocal color.
They close this EP out with the emphasis on groove. This approach recalls the mid-’90s when the rising tide of bands like Korn caused the old guard to pivot in an attempt to stay relevant. Back then the bands who succeeded in doing this were the ones who adapted while staying true to themselves. That is the common ground this band holds, as they might bring familiar sounds to the table but it feels like an organic expression of who they are as band. Clearly, thrash is an era of metal that was enduring, thanks to some of today’s arena packers coming from that scene. The riff of the last song “Love Lost” shifts at the end to pound the point home memorably.
These guys are moving the genre forward by proving you can still work within its confines while adding other shades outside the often monochrome blood-red rage most bands paint it with. They also have crafted some catchy tunes, which is really what it is about no matter the genre of music, as at the end of the day you can be as aggressive as you want but without hooks to make the listener come back for more it’s just an exercise in eardrum sadism.
This album is highly recommended to fans of the genre looking for something new rather than jsut reheating leftovers like a band like Municipal Waste tends to do. These guys should appeal to fans of both Sacred Reich and Power Trip in equal measure.
https://killbymouth.bandcamp.com/album/necessary-evil-ep
https://facebook.com/KillByMouthBand/
https://www.instagram.com/KillByMouth/