Kittie - In the Black

Title: In the Black
Artist: Kittie
Genre: Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal
Release Date: 23rd October 2009
Label: Massacre Records



Album Review

Canadian all-female metal outfit KITTIE was formed in 1996 and since that time it has undergone many changes in the line-up. Morgan and Mercedes Lander, the founder members of the band also changed their record label several times but despite all this the sisters still go in the direction they chose over 10 years ago. KITTIE’s style, which is sometimes described as nu metal for no reason, now presents a good combination of heavy and thrash metal diluted with soft and light melodies. ‘In the Black’, the fifth album of the formation brings the girls up to a higher level and it’s definitely an advance for the band starting as an alternative metal one. The music has become more interesting and complicated maybe not yet heavy enough but tuneful insertions only refine the sound in whole. On the new CD, the intensive delivery of the songs is skilfully combined with the harmony and melodiousness of the material and this mixture adds some diversity to KITTIE’s music.

The album starts with a melodic I would say rather drowsy intro and then the first full track ‘My Plague’ comes which instantly drives away your sleep. Energetic, pushing guitars, absolutely crazy drums and guttural screaming do their work quite well and give you a chance to enjoy the power of heavy metal. The next song ‘Cut Throat’ is built on the contrast between its heavy aggressive melody perfectly supplemented with Morgan’s howls and melodic chorus where the lead singer shows the beauty of her clean vocals. The same scheme was used for the composition ‘Forgive and Forget’ while such tracks as ‘Sorrow I Know’, ‘Falling Down’ and ‘Sleepwalking’ are made rather tunefully and please with their soft calm sound. ‘Die My Darling’ truly touches with the sincere hate filling both music and lyrics. And of course ‘The Truth’ featuring Justin Wolfe from THINE EYES BLEED is an epic composition passing the six minute mark. It starts with a sinister prelude turning into a leisurely metal attack with malicious and lacerated sound which is slowly fading to a strange noise produced by a merry-go-round or a music box. So it’s a great completion for, probably, the best album of the band at present.


Tracklist

01. Kingdom Come – 1:31
02. My Plague – 3:08
03. Cut Throat – 2:57
04. Die My Darling – 2:48
05. Sorrow I Know – 3:32
06. Forgive and Forget – 3:46
07. Now or Never – 2:37
08. Falling Down – 3:10
09. Sleepwalking – 3:19
10. Whiskey Love Song – 4:31
11. Ready Aim Riot – 3:16
12. The Truth – 6:42


Line-up

Morgan Lander – Vocals, Guitar
Mercedes Lander – Drums
Tara McLeod – Guitar
Ivy Vujic – Bass


Website

http://www.kittierocks.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/officialkittie


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8 / 10


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