Killswitch, another capable entrant into the rap/metal sweepstakes, features several former members of Canvas, one of the groups that blazed the trail for such hybrids locally. In this band's case, the point of comparison becomes apparent on the album's fourth track, which features Slipknot-style spelling on its title, "Season of the Sic," as well as a lyrical nod (Where we're going/We don't need eyes brings to mind that Iowa outfit's tune "Eyeless"), in addition to vocal and percussive similarities. However, like Vertigo, this talented crew is no knockoff. Killswitch excels at crafting complex breakdowns, which provide a sturdy bridge between the riff-driven rapped verses, the cathartic shouted choruses, and the melodic singing segments. Also, when Killswitch's vocalist raps, it's obviously a stylistic choice based on the way the cadence of spoken delivery matches the music, not a delusional attempt at bona fide MCing (see the Kottonmouth Kings for a pathetic example of the latter). Such songs as "Alone" are expertly assembled, merging slow-paced doom metal, staggering shout-powered outbreaks, and an almost classical resolution into a well-rounded track. Just when many had come to the conclusion that if you've heard one rap/metal band, you've heard them all, Killswitch throws in enough satisfying twists and turns to breathe new life into a genre that was in danger of becoming stagnant.
Comments (0)