Review Summary: Cavalera and co on a great mix of Soulingeroltastodon!
Killer Be Killed is an American supergroup consisting of members of Soulfly/Sepultura (Guitarist and singer Max Cavalera), The Dillinger Escape Plan (vocalist Greg Puciato), Mastodon (bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders) and Mars Volta (drummer Dave Elitch). The project started in 2011 and was an idea of Puciato and Cavalera. The other member joined the band afterward. They signed with Nuclear Blast and started writing materials in 2013 and released their first album in May 2014, self titled « Killer Be Killed ». Looking at all these bands involved, the metal community had high hopes, and this album delivers. It really does, actually it is one of the best Supergroup of today.
The album is a blend of Mastodon and Soulfly with a little touch of Dillinger Escape Plan. How does that work ? Well most of the time you'll have melodic verses with Puciato and Sanders alternating at singing and heavy chorus sung by Cavalera or Puciato's hardcore voice. This album is very accessible and at the same time very heavy. If you enjoy any of the bands of the members, you'll definitely enjoy this one. Everyone on this album gets a spot in the sunshine, the fact that you have three vocalists with many different vocal styles gives you a very enjoyable and never getting boring album. A perfect example would be Curb Crusher, where each members applie their styles backed by thrash and melodic guitars. The first two song actually feel like one big song, the transition between the two happens so fast that I had to look to notice where it changes. The rhythm of aggression and melodic parts doesn't stop until Save The Robots where we are introduced to the song by a robotic voice.
Choosing highlights on this album is a little hard as most of the songs are great in a lot of ways, but I will point out I.E.D's aggressive delivery and Set Fire To Your Flag's Cavalera style. On I.E.D, you'll even hear Puciato singing in a Cavalera way, with slow wording while screaming. The album actually closes on a very good song, Fobidden Fires, alternating between drum and bass and this agressive Cavalera verse singing «
Can't stop Forbidden Fires/ Revolution's on its way […] War Destroys/ And music saves/ Nobody tells you/ You're a slave ». Here, Cavalera is talking about music censorship (forbidden fires). To some people these lyrics will be a turn off, and most of Cavalera's lyrics are like this.
Although having no fillers, this album has some average songs like Dust Into Darkness : although having a tasty verse riff, the chorus lacks in originality and brings this song down. This album will definitely be one of the best Metal album of 2014. We don't know if the band intends to put out a second record or even a tour, but this is a great start or one-time album.
