Woah! Since when do Killwhitneydead play thrash metal?!?! Well, apparently since their “The Long Awaited - not quite anticipated comeback record Suffer My Wrath and one wishes they’d made the shift earlier, since they happen to be rather sick at it or perhaps now was just the right time.
Suffer My Wrath, which has been in the works since 2010, is the first album from the specially-challenged duo – consisting of Matt Rudzinski (Vocals/Samples) and Kyle Odell (Guitar) since 2007’s double-release of "Nothing Less And Nothing More and Hell To Pay" although it may as well be the debut of an entirely new band, given just how far Killwhitneydead have shifted their sound.
Some of the band’s deathcore heritage remains – in the form of Odell’s constant chugging, Rudzinski’s throaty vocal style and the occasional breakdown; but Suffer My Wrath is an album characterized by the type of over-the-top, power-laced thrash metal you would expect from the likes of 3 Inches Of Blood or Iced Earth even. The power thrash style of Suffer My Wrath is furthered by a plethora of guest vocalist, most notably, past contributor, Shawn Pelata of Line Of Fire, who appears on no less than seven of the album’s ten tracks; alongside the likes of, Pharaoh guitarist, Matt Johnsen; Jonin members Thomas Clark, Todd Houck and Stuart Smith; and Odell’s Vanisher bandmate, Justin Reich, who lends his mighty pipes to the track “Replicate To Survive.”
A new addition to the lineup, it’s clear that Odell (who also handles engineering duties)’s fingerprints are all overSuffer My Wrath, and maybe it’s more a testament to his prowess as a guitarist and songwriter than Killwitneydead as a (slightly expanded) whole that the album is miles better than anything the band has done. Yet, Rudzinski’s vocals and hardcore influence grants the record its distinguishing vibe, and his patented use of samples, which are drawn from the more malevolent side of things this time around (rather than repeatedly mining Family Guy), also seem more poignant and well executed.
Killwhitneydead have also seemingly (thankfully) dropped the overbearing, misogynistic lyrical content that made Nothing Less Nothing More a rather uncomfortable listen, especially in light of the Isla Vista shootings. Instead, Rudzinski spends his time gloriously playing up his new-found genre lyrical sample: “lashing oy, fighting back, now you’re going to feel my fucking wrath” (from “Sound The Alarms”) in the manner of some kind of unexpected Austrian Death Machine / Manowar crossbreed.
Suffer My Wrath, which has been in the works since 2010, is the first album from the specially-challenged duo – consisting of Matt Rudzinski (Vocals/Samples) and Kyle Odell (Guitar) since 2007’s double-release of "Nothing Less And Nothing More and Hell To Pay" although it may as well be the debut of an entirely new band, given just how far Killwhitneydead have shifted their sound.
Some of the band’s deathcore heritage remains – in the form of Odell’s constant chugging, Rudzinski’s throaty vocal style and the occasional breakdown; but Suffer My Wrath is an album characterized by the type of over-the-top, power-laced thrash metal you would expect from the likes of 3 Inches Of Blood or Iced Earth even. The power thrash style of Suffer My Wrath is furthered by a plethora of guest vocalist, most notably, past contributor, Shawn Pelata of Line Of Fire, who appears on no less than seven of the album’s ten tracks; alongside the likes of, Pharaoh guitarist, Matt Johnsen; Jonin members Thomas Clark, Todd Houck and Stuart Smith; and Odell’s Vanisher bandmate, Justin Reich, who lends his mighty pipes to the track “Replicate To Survive.”
A new addition to the lineup, it’s clear that Odell (who also handles engineering duties)’s fingerprints are all overSuffer My Wrath, and maybe it’s more a testament to his prowess as a guitarist and songwriter than Killwitneydead as a (slightly expanded) whole that the album is miles better than anything the band has done. Yet, Rudzinski’s vocals and hardcore influence grants the record its distinguishing vibe, and his patented use of samples, which are drawn from the more malevolent side of things this time around (rather than repeatedly mining Family Guy), also seem more poignant and well executed.
Killwhitneydead have also seemingly (thankfully) dropped the overbearing, misogynistic lyrical content that made Nothing Less Nothing More a rather uncomfortable listen, especially in light of the Isla Vista shootings. Instead, Rudzinski spends his time gloriously playing up his new-found genre lyrical sample: “lashing oy, fighting back, now you’re going to feel my fucking wrath” (from “Sound The Alarms”) in the manner of some kind of unexpected Austrian Death Machine / Manowar crossbreed.