Death By Ki
There’s two things I’m sure of in this world:
1). When Garry from SAN PR sends us through a band to check out, I need to sit up and take note as quite simply, the man knows his stuff.
2). I’m Somerset born and bred, have scrumpy running through my veins, and will always look fondly upon Taunton and the surrounding areas as a place I call home (or the closest thing to it anyway!).
Now, based on these two factors, when Garry sent us through the spanking new record, The Right Of Might, from Bridgewater (Somerset boys!) based Death By Ki – I was looking forward to checking things out! As a band who draw on the power of Lamb Of God and Slayer, then mix it with some old school stylings akin to Metallica, Death By Ki are out there offering up a ‘heady blend of pummelling hooks laced with Slayer-esque vocals, layered riffage, sturdy bass and rock solid bass’ – which let’s be honest, sounds good! Add in some support slots with the likes of Gallows, Revoker, Romeo Must Die, Evile and Be’Lakor – and what we’ve got here is a band who seem to be ticking every box on the sheet, so what of the music?
As Like Oxygen To Fire kicks in things are made instantly clear, this is cool stuff! Heavy riffs forge around a solid bass line and hammering drum work to form a sound which is fast paced, moving, and the sort of thing which is going to get pits moving from front to back from the word go. Akin to a heavier version of Metallica, this is music which harnesses all of the influences of thrash and combines them into a unique approach, a sound which is heavy, in your face, raw, and yet complex and interesting from the off. Imagine Slayer combined with Metallica, combined with Bullet For My Valentine, combined with Lamb Of God, with a little sprinkling of Anthrax and you’re getting somewhere close to what’s on offer – it’s like a heady mix of progressive thrash, and it’s damned good to hear. Even going so far as to throw a blistering guitar solo into the mix, this is old school metal for the new generation, and whilst these are merely the opening moments of the record, it’s all sounding damned good.
Continuing into The Right Of Might there’s no hold up in the ability on offer, kicking into an almighty lead line before bolstering the mix with riffs to form a sound that’s a cross between all out thrash and accessible stadium rock. The second track here seems to take the foundations built by the opening moments of the record, and builds on them to form a new approach, continuing to push the boundaries of what you expect to hear whilst ensuring that what’s on offer is heavy, powerful, in your face, and straight to the point. Definitely a track I’ll need to see on the live scene, this is a seriously high moment on the record, and a seriously accomplished track from the Bridgewater boys. The same can be said for Control (In A World Of Free Will), once again accentuating the opening moments of the track through the use of lead lines, whilst still managing to keep that heavy approach rumbling around in the background. Chunky riffs combine with rumbling bass and solid drumming to form a marching approach, offering up a sound which is heavy and straight to the point, the sort of thing which is going to get those pits going once again, with everyone running to the sounds of the double bass rolling out of the mix. Personally, this is my favourite track off of the record – there’s just something about it I can’t help but love, and want to hear a hell of a lot more!
As Tao comes into being we’re led into a marked change, this time chilling things out for the opening moments and using acoustic guitars to lead the way into things. This softer approach may sound as if it’s out of place in writing, but in practice, it works to perfection. Combining the soft guitar tones with a rumbling bass and soaring lead line, the mix seems to grow around you, luring you in with each beat of the drum, building on the track and continuing to show just how much ability is on offer in this unit. Building to a crescendo this track soon resumes the all out power approach, only this time with a sense of emotion also built into it, as well as a further development in that progressive edge which began to show itself earlier. This track may be slower but don’t assume it’s a soft ride, once again the track packs a punch and leaves you with no doubts that they know what they’re doing, continuing to push the boundaries of what should be possible.
It’s only then left for Lights Out to close the record, finishing much as it began and closing with an all out aural assault designed to remind you that this is heavy, this is metal, and this sounds damned good. Fast paced drums combine with Metallica esque guitar work to form a sound that’s heavy, fast, in your face, and firmly rooted in the world of thrash. Despite the ‘thrash’ tag there’s once again more complexity on offer than you’d expect, more intricacies, and more hooks which are sure to keep you listening from start to finish – a fine close to a hell of a record.
Well, when Garry said that Death By Ki were a quality band that I should check out, I knew it was going to be good – but not this good. This is a record which has classic written all over it, this is a band who have got stardom written all over them, this is a moment we’re all going to talk about in years to come. Death By Ki are here, they’re loud, they’re heavy, and quite simply, they’re fucking awesome.
To find out more about Death By Ki, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
1). When Garry from SAN PR sends us through a band to check out, I need to sit up and take note as quite simply, the man knows his stuff.
2). I’m Somerset born and bred, have scrumpy running through my veins, and will always look fondly upon Taunton and the surrounding areas as a place I call home (or the closest thing to it anyway!).
Now, based on these two factors, when Garry sent us through the spanking new record, The Right Of Might, from Bridgewater (Somerset boys!) based Death By Ki – I was looking forward to checking things out! As a band who draw on the power of Lamb Of God and Slayer, then mix it with some old school stylings akin to Metallica, Death By Ki are out there offering up a ‘heady blend of pummelling hooks laced with Slayer-esque vocals, layered riffage, sturdy bass and rock solid bass’ – which let’s be honest, sounds good! Add in some support slots with the likes of Gallows, Revoker, Romeo Must Die, Evile and Be’Lakor – and what we’ve got here is a band who seem to be ticking every box on the sheet, so what of the music?
As Like Oxygen To Fire kicks in things are made instantly clear, this is cool stuff! Heavy riffs forge around a solid bass line and hammering drum work to form a sound which is fast paced, moving, and the sort of thing which is going to get pits moving from front to back from the word go. Akin to a heavier version of Metallica, this is music which harnesses all of the influences of thrash and combines them into a unique approach, a sound which is heavy, in your face, raw, and yet complex and interesting from the off. Imagine Slayer combined with Metallica, combined with Bullet For My Valentine, combined with Lamb Of God, with a little sprinkling of Anthrax and you’re getting somewhere close to what’s on offer – it’s like a heady mix of progressive thrash, and it’s damned good to hear. Even going so far as to throw a blistering guitar solo into the mix, this is old school metal for the new generation, and whilst these are merely the opening moments of the record, it’s all sounding damned good.
Continuing into The Right Of Might there’s no hold up in the ability on offer, kicking into an almighty lead line before bolstering the mix with riffs to form a sound that’s a cross between all out thrash and accessible stadium rock. The second track here seems to take the foundations built by the opening moments of the record, and builds on them to form a new approach, continuing to push the boundaries of what you expect to hear whilst ensuring that what’s on offer is heavy, powerful, in your face, and straight to the point. Definitely a track I’ll need to see on the live scene, this is a seriously high moment on the record, and a seriously accomplished track from the Bridgewater boys. The same can be said for Control (In A World Of Free Will), once again accentuating the opening moments of the track through the use of lead lines, whilst still managing to keep that heavy approach rumbling around in the background. Chunky riffs combine with rumbling bass and solid drumming to form a marching approach, offering up a sound which is heavy and straight to the point, the sort of thing which is going to get those pits going once again, with everyone running to the sounds of the double bass rolling out of the mix. Personally, this is my favourite track off of the record – there’s just something about it I can’t help but love, and want to hear a hell of a lot more!
As Tao comes into being we’re led into a marked change, this time chilling things out for the opening moments and using acoustic guitars to lead the way into things. This softer approach may sound as if it’s out of place in writing, but in practice, it works to perfection. Combining the soft guitar tones with a rumbling bass and soaring lead line, the mix seems to grow around you, luring you in with each beat of the drum, building on the track and continuing to show just how much ability is on offer in this unit. Building to a crescendo this track soon resumes the all out power approach, only this time with a sense of emotion also built into it, as well as a further development in that progressive edge which began to show itself earlier. This track may be slower but don’t assume it’s a soft ride, once again the track packs a punch and leaves you with no doubts that they know what they’re doing, continuing to push the boundaries of what should be possible.
It’s only then left for Lights Out to close the record, finishing much as it began and closing with an all out aural assault designed to remind you that this is heavy, this is metal, and this sounds damned good. Fast paced drums combine with Metallica esque guitar work to form a sound that’s heavy, fast, in your face, and firmly rooted in the world of thrash. Despite the ‘thrash’ tag there’s once again more complexity on offer than you’d expect, more intricacies, and more hooks which are sure to keep you listening from start to finish – a fine close to a hell of a record.
Well, when Garry said that Death By Ki were a quality band that I should check out, I knew it was going to be good – but not this good. This is a record which has classic written all over it, this is a band who have got stardom written all over them, this is a moment we’re all going to talk about in years to come. Death By Ki are here, they’re loud, they’re heavy, and quite simply, they’re fucking awesome.
To find out more about Death By Ki, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls