Fugazi - In on the Kill Taker
Fugazi
Ian MacKaye - vocals & guitar
Guy Picciotto - vocals
Joe Lally - bass
Brendan Canty – drums
Released in 1993 In on the Kill Taker is lumped right in the middle of late and early Fugazi releases. The title comes from a piece of paper the band found lying in the street just simply stating “In on the Kill Taker” This is what I like to call Fugazi’s “Yellow” album and is questionably the D.C Quartets most depressing and noisiest record released. This record never fails to move me.
Does noise equal beauty? Or is it just a headache? Personally I find noise and feedback it to be one of the greatest forms of musical expression. It’s one of the few things that can still shock with its unpredictable movements, combustion patterns and just the sheer tortured tones it can produce. And of course Fugazi can pull it off with a perfect sense of dynamics and tight song structures. Moments like the end of “23 Beats” and “Instrument” are defined by this noise and feedback, without it I find it would be rather difficult to match the intensity that many of these songs posses.
All fans of Minor Threat should love this disc, it has a very hardcore vibe and “Great Cop” wouldn’t sound very out of place on your Minor Threat “Complete Discography”. It’s common misperception that Fugazi are lighter than Minor Threat. Most of their later material is actually quite heavy listen to “Public Witness Program” and “Walken’s Syndrome” and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. Of course there are sensitive moments too. The depressing “Rend It” and pretty instrumental “Sweet and Low” are sure to mellow you out.
“Fragile stem
Asleep at the stoplight again
Red dressed in red drenched in red spreading red ever red
Fragile stem
Veering for control again
Change lanes explain how strain defers the impact of speed
On on past gone gone gone past on
Fragile stem
Made your own road again
Scars crash and glass made
You laugh you'd show it off to your friends
Fragile stem lay down your arms and then
Steer into the headlights like the dead light of the last sun you'll see
Steering into headlights and your gone”
I cannot praise these lyrics enough; Guy and Ian have such great wit and eloquent ways of stating thing. I didn’t even realize this song was about dying in a car crash until just recently when I checked the lyrics and now the song has a whole new meaning to me. Plus the opening riff is just awesome. The more you put in the more get out, very rewarding.
Overall In on the Kill Taker is an exhausting listen, at least for me. So much happens at such a frantic pace, it’s sometimes hard to keep up. Just trust me, it’s awesome. Oh, and if you aren’t familiar with Fugazi this may not be the best place to start but hell why not.
Recommended songs
Walken’s Syndrome
Smallpox Champion
Public Witness Program
Last Chance For a Slow Dance
Overall Rating 5/5
