Kittie is a band that I’ve heard friends rave about, but just never got around to listening to. I know they’ve been around the best part of a decade, and some of my shallower metal mates rave about this Canadian four piece’s model looks, but amongst all the many bands I try and get to see live and listen to in my spare time, Kittie just didn’t get a look in. On the basis of this, their fifth studio album, I think I’ll have to revise my opinion and pay some more attention.
Short instrumental opener, ‘In The Black’ with its laid back riffs throws a bit of a curve ball, before the opening thrash riff of ‘My Plague’ batters its way out of the speaker, with more then a hint of the best elements of Testament’s classic ‘Souls of Black.’ When the harsh growled vocals of front woman Morgan Lander fire out, punctuated by short bursts of classic rock sustain fire out, the band truly stamp out their metal credentials, comparing more then favourably with Sabina Classen, vocalist for Holy Moses and arguably the first female of extreme metal. This battering continues with ‘Cut Throat’, featuring an excellent solo amongst the pummeling riffs.
‘Sorrow I Know’ slows down the pace, a slower creeping progression intertwining with the clean impassioned, pained vocals, delivering a track that should appeal to a whole range of rock fans, be they Goth, classic, or nu-metal followers, before the pace ups again with the thrash opening of ‘Forgive and Forget’. Most songs on the album come out at a punchy three minutes, in stark contrast to album closer ‘The Truth’. At over six minutes it starts with the deep lament of a church organ before fuzzy doom laden guitars blast out over slow, sludgy bass and drums. Again moving effortlessly from unearthly growls to cleanly delivered lyrics, the vocalist works perfectly with the instruments to produce a track that could stand proud against tracks from many full time doomsters.
There really is so much to enjoy in this album. Great riffs delivered with a classic twin guitar attack punctuated by sharp solos; a tripwire tight rhythm section blasting along; and a vocalist who has range, not just a single style of delivery. Add to this sharp writing and top production that allows each element to come through clearly without polishing away the band’s rough edged passion, and you have an excellent package. January sees this band hitting Europe with seven club shows throughout the UK; I think I may well have to squeeze one of the shows into my schedule, and suggest you do too.
http://www.kittierocks.com
www.myspace.com/officialkittie
