Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Killer Kin, Dead Beat Records 2023.
It’s been a while since I’ve brought you some low-fi rock from my friends at Dirty Water Records.
Killer Kin are a Connecticut USA garage rock band and they are about to release their debut self-titled album on Dead Beat records.
Their sound is overdriven distorted guitars played over frantic drumming and straight driving bass with minimal mixing and no studio tricks.
Quoting from the publicity blurb that accompanied the download describing lead singer Matt “if you haven’t seen a hound from hell, now you’ve heard one.” It tells you everything you need to know.
He’s right out there on the edge… bare chested, skin-tight leopard-skin shorts, masses of hair, energy and throat shredding screaming.
Asked about their debut album he commented “Our debut LP features ten chain-banging, soul-stripping and razor-sharp rock ‘n’ roll sluggers that are sure to have you stoned on raw powerage.” This says it all.
Killer Kin play up the dominatrix image of their female lead guitarist, leather, chains and all.
The lead single from the album, Mr Dynamite, whets the appetite for the album.
It starts with a rapid bass line and a scream that heralds in a track played at a frantic razor edge pace that threatens to get out of control.
The tension is palpable as the track teeters on the edge of chaos.
This album is punk rock played by musicians that are much better than The Sex Pistols could ever hope to be.
Every tack is played manically fast but the band do have a bit of fun with us with the sixth track Dammed and Doomed starting slowly with an ACDC riff feel. Just as you settle into the groove they let go of the brake and away it goes.
The eighth track Needles and Knives has more elements of ACDC and maybe a bit of Black Sabbath and loads of Ramones.
A great debut release.
