Killie
Offering A Sacrifice That Presents And Indicates..


4.5
superb

Review

by Rationalist USER (50 Reviews)
December 24th, 2009 | 30 replies


Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

Review Summary: One of the better screamo album of the last couple of years shows promise for the future of the band.

When one thinks of screamo, they may think of the post-rock inspired bands with epic tracks which mesh serenity, chaos, and beauty altogether flawlessly. Others may think of the very rough, rigid, short, noisy bursts of passionate intensity. Nowadays, bands that fall into this somewhat stagnant genre are oftentimes either one of the aforementioned stylizations or the other. Some bastardize both genres to create something “new.” And several of those bands end up sounding eerily familiar, eerily similar to their counterparts. So in this stagnant pond of screamo music, where does Killie lie? On neither side of the fence, that's where Killie lies. And don't take me for one who doesn't realize that several run-of-the-mill bands are also praised as being original, because I fully recognize that this happens all too often.

Now just how are they so separate from the rest of the crop? Well, one of the first things you'll notice about the pleasurable aural assault that is Killie's “Offering A Sacrifice That Presents And Indicates A Mournful Resentment Of Today” is the long, monotonous, Japanese spoken word that begins every one of these six tracks. This spoken word is atop barely audible melodies generated by the band, and what seems to be numerous Christmas tunes from shopping centers throughout the whole album; it segues perfectly into the steadfast, chaotic, spasmodic, aggressive screamo music that Killie performs practically perfectly.

Another thing you'll notice is the actual music here. Killie's signature style of screamo combines guitars with a post-rock tinge to them, noise that bands like Jerome's Dream used oft, Japanese vocals with avant-garde stylizations thrown in frequently, and excessive use of dynamics and samples. The guitar riffs are extremely catchy and switch constantly in a way that shows that Killie is comfortable with switching time signatures up several times. The drums are fast and frenetic when apposite, and can switch to a very hollow, ethereal sound that so many post-rock and screamo bands accomplished beforehand. However, Killie takes this to new heights, and they oftentimes use it as a mode to fit in those changes with samples and dynamics. Lastly, the vocals incorporate odd sounds on occasion like Japan's notorious noisecore bands are infamous for. Clicks, screams, grunts, and cries can be heard on this record, all whilst keeping a basic first-wave screamo feel to it throughout every single minute of this pleasurable listen, and throughout every single track present.

From tracks like “H19.09.07,09.” with two minutes of actual aural altercation and five minutes of said spoken word, to the spastic, hearty, intense, nineteen-minute long epic, “H19.08.18” (which incorporates several lengthy samples, bellicose rhythms, aggressive vocals, noisy guitars, and an overall intricate, violent, spasmodic, fantastic composition throughout) the fifty-six minute long album is, needless to say, an interesting affair. The latter of these two is a definite highlight as it begins again with this Japanese monologue and then segues effortlessly into a chaotic song so intensely passionate that it hurts. Raucous screams are present here more than ever, and as the track progresses, it slides into another sample. This then merges into another half-minute of chaotic, fast, loud, intense music, before it finally ends with yet another sample, this time, of cars rushing by, and the sound of something electric being altered. Another great moment on this album is “H18.05” where a more metal vibe comes off and is reminiscent of 65daysofstatic, or the more orchestral, more cinematic moments of Kayo Dot's early works. But all is not without its faults.

One of the major problems with the album is its length. Clocking in at approximately fifty-six minutes and four seconds, with only six songs, there are some obvious epics here. A lot of the album is musically proficient, but there are some huge gaps that, whilst they aren't incoherent, they don't seem all that necessary. If the album is a concept album and all of these samples amount to something (Christmas leading into religion and electricity could work, could it not?) then this arrangement seems far more sensible. So while I will still count the excess as a negative, I'll give the band the benefit of the doubt and hope for the best out of the negative. But nevertheless, despite a minuscule negative, this is a truly magnificent effort for anyone looking for passionate, intense music with more than a pinch of originality thrown into the mix. I hope the best for Killie in the future as well, for they have generated a crowning achievement.

FINAL RATING:4.5/5-One of the better screamo album of the last couple of years shows promise for the future of the band.



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user ratings (22)
3.8
excellent

Comments:Add a Comment 
Homewrecker
December 25th 2009


231 Comments


Killie are goddamn awesome

rasputin
December 25th 2009


14968 Comments


nice to see this reviewed

Rationalist
December 25th 2009


880 Comments


Killie are fucking amazing; it's good that I'm not that only fan of them here.

Rationalist
December 25th 2009


880 Comments


But how was my review? I seem to be rather prolific lately.

rasputin
December 25th 2009


14968 Comments


yeah the review is fine

there are a couple of instances where comma use makes it read a little awkwardly, but some rephrasing could fix that easily

Homewrecker
December 25th 2009


231 Comments


I've listened to this a bunch so I might be sort of biased, but you seem to have described everything pretty well. I'd know what I was getting into, assuming I hadn't heard this before.

Rationalist
December 25th 2009


880 Comments


@rasputin: a little hawthorn-esque? (less genius however, i suck at writing non-fiction)

@homewrecker: The first time I heard this, I had only heard Abandoned Corpse... and so I was like, wtf? Is this a different Killie?

Rationalist
December 25th 2009


880 Comments


And the packaging is fucking amazing. Though it was not as good as that supposed "cement block" that was in there; that would have been enough to give this a five without even listening to the damned thing.

Homewrecker
December 25th 2009


231 Comments


It's too bad most of their material is impossible to find.

rasputin
December 25th 2009


14968 Comments


When one thinks of screamo-and by screamo, I do not mean Blessthefall or Alesana-they may think of the post-rock inspired bands with epic tracks; those bands who mesh serenity, chaos, and beauty altogether flawlessly

You could definitely re-write that, and just to point out, the comma after 'chaos' is not needed

and sentences like this one:
So in this stagnant pond of screamo music, where does our item of focus, Killie, lie?

your style is fine but the flow just gets a little impeded by objectionable punctuation

Rationalist
December 25th 2009


880 Comments


@homewrecker: I know. I wish that they toured in IL on occasion so I could receive at least a tour split or something along those lines.

@rasputin: I could take the semicolon out and the alesana part, that semicolon is improper anyway, since that's only a subject. Will get to it.

What objectionable punctuation in the latter? It may just be my fatigue, but I don't see any unnecessary commas, and will wait to edit before I hear what may be the case here.

Rationalist
December 25th 2009


880 Comments


Although this noisenotmusic site has this and the cassette thing to download....

Homewrecker
December 25th 2009


231 Comments


I've got this, Don't Want To Escape From The Underground, Afterall, The Opinion of One blah blah and the Off Minor split, but I can't find September Against Sexism anywhere.

Rationalist
December 25th 2009


880 Comments


My friend has one that he got for like 70 dollars. So... have fun with that.

Homewrecker
December 25th 2009


231 Comments


I'll just convince myself it isn't worth hearing and all will be well.

Rationalist
December 25th 2009


880 Comments


He says it's indeed their worst, so that won't (supposedly) be too far from the truth.

Homewrecker
December 25th 2009


231 Comments


Good to know!

Rationalist
December 25th 2009


880 Comments


for your wallet


Homewrecker
December 25th 2009


231 Comments


Obviously some friendly pirate needs to come along and upload it... cough

Rationalist
December 25th 2009


880 Comments


If you put up your showbox, I can show you a link.



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