Killer Be Killed Kill ‘Em All

The line-up of Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Troy Sanders (Mastodon), Max Cavalera (Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy) and David Elitch (The Mars Volta) is bound to create a sense of curiosity about the sound the quartet is likely to produce. The members of “Killer Be Killed” come from very distinct musical backgrounds and to say that it is an odd mix would be no overstatement. Before the release, Puciato shed some light on the direction of the record stating that “It’s a bit of Sabbath-y doom, a bit of thrash, a bit of hardcore and punk”.

While I agree with Mr. Puciato’s analysis to a great extent, he would have been right on the money had he claimed that “It’s a bit of Sabbath-y doom, a LOT of thrash, a bit of hardcore and punk”. Musically, this album is closest to Cavalera’s characteristic Thrash and Groove Metal style he has become renowned for producing with his other bands. Yet, it does not come without the occasional aforementioned “Sabbath-y doom” riff here and there and a little bit of the Hardcore brashness thrown in for good measure. Dave Elitch and Troy Sanders combine to form a rhythm section more than able to match up to whatever guitar wizardry Cavalera and Puciato have on offer and give a very massive feel to the songs present on this album.

The three-pronged vocal attack, with Puciato, Sanders and Cavalera handling the high register cleans and screams, the low register cleans and the growls respectively, helps keep things very interesting. Puciato must be lauded for another fine and very diverse vocal performance where he can exhibit a very uncanny sense of melody on tracks like “Wings of Weather and Wax” and “Dust Into Darkness” and yet not restrain from unleashing the fury in the heavier tracks like “Snakes Of Jehovah” and “Face Down”.

With most supergroups failing to live upto the buzz they generate, this album comes as a refreshing change. That being said had this incorporated more influences of members not named Cavalera this might have been a more adventurous record and a potential masterpiece. There is also the likelihood that it might have ended up being a jarring listen due to the lack of fluidity. Well, it can only be pondered upon as we wait for the next Killer Be Killed release. (We sure hope there is one!)

7.5/10