Killjoy

Easily in my top three favorites by Shihad, Killjoy blends the coolness of the later albums with the overtones of the past. It’s an awkward blend, but it manages to unravel any flaws and handles itself with caution, thus generating tracks of sympathy, anger, and (yes) tribal. Toogood continues to utilize rather distorted vocals, but too a lesser scope than on Churn. Therefore, we’re introduced to more of his wailing-yet-manly vocals – fitting for everything the lead can throw at us. The bass has left it’s threatening tendencies behind and opts for a more groovy approach this time around and can easily be heard in all it’s muddy glory.

Notice the cover art? You see how strange, faint, and fuzzy the center image is with all those infrared colors? Well that can also represent the sound of this album (or a wall of sound at that). It isn’t horribly produced fuzzy like black metal, but more distorted, trance-like and, in a rough sort of way, dreamlike. These traits are present at the fullest with “Envy,” “Deb’s Night Out,” and the tranquil / optimistic “Gimme Gimme.” In my head, I can’t help but picture a tropical setting in the Australasian region of the world – commerce skyrocketing, my orangutan hitman and I on vacation with briefcases of money and Hawaiian shirts, and Miss Malaysia going bi just for me… yeaaaah

The atmosphere of the album is heavy as well, with the primary powerhouse being the drums (specifically bass drums). While they are typical rhythm back-up on some, others have this tribal war beat going on that sounds like a fucking battle raging (“Get Up” especially) – rhinos stampeding, Zulu warriors charging, British making a last stand; damn, Zulu was an awesome movie. Production also helps this out a lot, lending a hand towards that wall of sound / echo effect found throughout. Toogood still pulls around the Richard Patrick / Townsend method of singing, and sometimes it can get annoying do to his raw nature of yelling at this point in time. Otherwise, he sounds terrific and fits well with the less-dark tone.

Another hit in my book, with a little of the violence toned down a bit. This would be like the PG-13 of Shihad, with Churn representing the Rated R of the full-length albums. The rest of them are almost PG releases, but don’t let that stop you either! It may be rock music after this, but it’s worth the listen.