Face the Madness

Kiiling, a quartet hailing from Denmark, is going to conquer the thrash scene with their furious debut album “Face The Madness”. Having a glimpse on the album cover this one looks like a very old-school affair with this mutated priest (or did he just listen to St. Anger?) baptizing a baby over a not very healthy looking chalice. Also the logo looks pretty much like bands from the 80s. But may this wish come true or is it just some sham?

I guess, after the first two seconds from the opener “Kill Everyone” there is no doubt that the guys really mean it serious with their intention. A blistering high-speed riff and some high-pitched screams and here we go with the wild thrash hunt. They don't find too much time to throttle down the tempo here (and not in the other eight songs) but blast through them with a lot of ferocity and anger. Sometimes the song structure even reminds me of some black metal stuff like in “Don't Get Mad, Get Evil”, just listen to the chorus here and check “Death, Sex, Ejaculation” on Marduk's “La Grande Danse Macabre”. But apart from the hellish tempo they perform here, and in most of the other songs they still kept an eye (or better an ear) on some really sophisticated and catchy melodies in their tracks like in “Before Violence Strikes”. This one has again some very catchy vocal-lines and some casual gang-shouts and is a pretty solid banger to shout and party to.

“Straight Out Of Kattegat” brings some maritime feelings to the listener with some chiming bells and crying seagulls before the monster comes crawling out of the Baltic Sea to spread fear and terror. The track is pretty much Slayer-orientated when they released their last top-notch album, namely “Seasons In The Abyss”. The same goes for “Killed In Action” which is also a very gloomy track with some martial drumming at the beginning of it. But in the further progress this one turns into a far away relative from the title track of the aforementioned Slayer album which always was a favorite track of mine and always will be. So “Killed In Action” makes me pretty happy, too. I guess that's logical, isn't it? And in “Legion Of Hate” you can clearly find out what are the other influences on Killing. Here they go more into punk from the drum-pace, but the guitars sound pretty much like all the Bay Area bands, especially old Exodus but also very old Metallica.

Well, if you read my review until here you can clearly see what there is to expect when you face the madness from Denmark. And if you are into thrash, I guess this isn't the worst option to face it. I hope that Jesper, Rasmus, Sned and Rasmus 2 co will soon release another album because the band has a very promising future and could be the next big thing in the next years to kick ass in the underground and below. Ah, no that was the lame Overkill album….in the underground and above! Just check the album and support the guys, they totally deserve it because they sound absolutely convincing and authentic to the bone.

Rating: 9,4 out of 10 Danish seamonsters

I once read a book. Shocking news, isn’t it? It was about Denmark, among other things about the Danish food. The author was moaning that there is nothing as boring as the eating habits of the Danes. In the morning: bread. At lunch: bread. For dinner: bread. Well, I don’t think he was right. But even if this would be the case, who cares? Focus on the thrash exports of this country and you will find many positive aspects. Not only Artillery, but also formations like Battery and Killing who have some asses up their sleeve, too. Given this fact, just ignore the idiotic artwork of “Face the Madness” and adolescent song titles like “Kill Everyone”. Instead, concentrate on the music.

Killing are immune against modern influences. Their kind of riffs celebrates the old school of the role models. The guitars deliver a feast of sawing, slicing and chopping. It’s not only the beginning of “See You in Hell” which catapults the audience 35 years back in time, but it is one of the most impressive sections of the album. The song with the almost classic pun “Don’t Get Mad, Get Evil” also boasts with raw riffing and a pleasant degree of intensity. Names like Dark Angel and Vio-lence come to my mind- Schmier-like high-pitches vocals appear sporadically. But Killing are clever enough to refer more than just one once pioneering unit. They definitely do not appear as copycats. Instead, their approach is intact. Therefore the band delivers fresh songs (with some pretty cool solos) that just like to be performed in a tried and tested style. Nothing wrong with this, I guess. And the closer “Killed in Action” surprises with a mid-harsh approach and a high quantum of individuality, even though some of its parts send greetings to Italy’s Necrodeath.

Neither the clear, aggressive and straight-in-your-face production nor the songs disappoint me. You get want you want to get when it comes to a thrash album. Each and every song reaches a good level, some of them even a great one. I am sure you will not think of pressing the skip button during the 40 minutes of this work, because Killing just do not deliver any reason to do so. It feels that they play thrash by conviction and this is something I really like.

Finally, the dudes of Killing seem to proud of their origin. “Straight out of Kattegat” tells us a nice horror story and gives the album a patriotic flavour, because the Kattegat is a maritime area between the Danish Jutland and the Swedish west coast. It has a very good configuration, because it grows constantly and intensely, it possesses a quite memorable chorus and scores with an atmospheric beginning and end. Of course, thrash is a more urban style than its blackened cousin from Norway. Consequently, it does not need a lot of atmosphere. However, sometimes it’s a nice addition. And the same can be said about the entire debut. It’s an album that adds value to your collection. It will never conquer the throne of “Reign in Blood”, “Hell Awaits” or “Bonded by Blood”, but it makes much more fun than eating only bread the whole day long.