Register Forgot login?

© 2002-2024
Encyclopaedia Metallum

Privacy Policy

Killer > Thriller > Reviews > bayern
Killer - Thriller

Jack the Ripper with the Swiss Scalpel - 83%

bayern, May 10th, 2017

Killer were the second hard rock/heavy metal outfit on Swiss soil after the legends Krokus. Not surprisingly, they modelled themselves after their peers which meant that their debut “Ladykiller” was a heavily AC/DC-influenced collection of anthems with the high-strung Brian Johnson-esque vocals a most striking feature as at times the listener may not be sure whether he/she listens to the mighty Aussies, or to a very capable tribute act.

This tribute is wisely mixed with a more individualistic approach on the album reviewed here although the shadow of Angus Young and Co. is more than tangible, especially on “Out on the Front Line” which could be mistaken from a track from “Highway to Hell” any time with its prolonged bluesy chords and the jam-like atmosphere. Starts “Stealin’ My Mind Away”, though, and a more energetic delivery rises close to the early heavy metal patterns, one that starts banging the head affirmatively. “Break My Chains” goes back to the Australian connection again for inspiration, but “The Great Escape” notches it up with heavier, more intense guitars leading the way to the highlight, the excellent heavy metal rouser “Sell Your Soul”, a fist-pumping winner which sees the guys well able to pull it off without any adherence to bigger names on the scene. “Never Touch a Tiger” tones it down a bit, but retains the hard-edged rhythm-section which does a good job on “Take Me, Break Me, Shake Me”, another energetic heavy metal piece which almost equals the previously mentioned “Sell Your Soul”, also inspiring future practitioners like Cinderella to pay tribute to its catchy, evergreen character. The ending would be quite a surprise, though, “Prisoner of the Night”, a somewhat long ballad, a very good number on all counts, but somehow not fitting into the overall approach; on top of that it’s performed by a different singer having nothing to do with the earlier over-the-top screamy antics, an assured clean mid-ranged throat capable of emitting quite a bit of passion.

It turned out that that last piece was a transitional one as this deeper timbre had taken over on the third instalment which also left aside all AC/DC and Krokus influences, concentrating on purer heavy metal ways of expression also preserving the memorable, sing-along character of the guys’ previous repertoire. “Young Blood” was another cool assembly of rousing heavy metal anthems which was also their swansong seeing the band exiting the scene at a very early stage, one of the first sign-offs from the 80’s metal roller-coaster.

Aussies and spring flowers aside, this “Thriller” here remains the peak of the band’s career, an instantly pleasing slab of hard rock and heavy metal which was still holding onto the 70’s rock canons the latter fading away quickly from the social consciousness due to the new more aggressive tools brought forward early in the new decade. It threw a bridge between the two genres, sometimes sticking to mere emulation, sometimes branching out into its own thing the latter by all means the more attractive side that again seemed to work better when accompanied by the milder, more familiar AC/DC-esque histrionics. The guys apparently think in the same way, as they are willing to give themselves another chance in the new millennium, and the new “Pure Dynamite” EP sees them looking back at their “thrilling” roots with a track from their debut also featured prominently. Krokus have been doing moderately well through the years, one of the few veterans that never split up, and Killer will be more than a fitting company to their compatriots for another “scary” ride into the world of notorious “ladykillers”.