KILLER BE KILLED Reluctant Hero | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

 

Released by Nuclear Blast on November 20th, 2020

Quick Background

Killer Be Killed is a super group featuring Greg Puciato (Vocals/Guitar) (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Max Cavalera (Vocals/Guitar) (Soulfly, Ex-Sepultura), Troy Sanders (Vocals/Bass) (Mastodon) and Ben Koller (Drums) (Converge, All Pigs Must Die, Mutoid Man). The band began when Max and Greg ran into each other at a Los Angeles benefit show for Chi Cheng. The two discussed doing a project, which led to a demo. In late 2012, Puciato was telling Mastodon’s Troy Sanders about the new band. Before too long, Sanders and Cavalera met, they all got together and that resulted in their self-titled first-album released in 2014. The debut was on my top 20 list of that year but honestly I did not expect they would ever release another album. That surprised me because I don't like super groups. However, I love all the original and current main bands of all members. More importantly, I like bands with multiple singers and here the three vocalists are fantastic and have some of the most recognizable voices in heavy music. 

Reluctant Hero

Reluctant Hero features 11 songs and clocks in at 48 minutes. Pretty decent length and a balanced album. The new endeavour is quite melodic and groovy while keeping that aggressiveness that we can expect from these guys. It builds on the latest efforts of the band members. Puciato uses a lot his clear voice and melodic approach that were prominent in the last two The Dillinger Escape Plan albums. The same goes for Sanders who have also doubled down on his melodic side on the last couple Mastodon albums. Cavalera brings the heaviness with his trademark guttural vocals. This combination of Max voice and the melodic groove underneath made me think a lot on Killswitch Engage. Specially on the first couple of songs. Like the fantastic single "Dream Gone Bad".  

Most songs are straightforward and are around the 4 minute mark. There are 3 exceptions though. "From a Crowded Wound", the ferocious "Animus" which is a 1-minute hardcore punch in the face and the album closer and title track which is a slow tempo 6-minute melancholic curved ball. It's a interesting experimental way to close the album with a unexpected touch. But I want to come back to "From a Crowded Wound" which beautifully splits the album into two. It's a nice way to catch the breath with a mid tempo build up following the heavy songs that come before. It's a 7-min sludgy song with some of the coolest drums and bass sections of the album. Actually all the songs leading into this one are my highlights of this album. "Filthy Vagabond" is one of the most hardcore songs on the album, but I do not like the Oh Oh Oh on the chorus, it almost ruins the song for me. Other than that nothing complain. 

Koller's drumming throughout the album is a highlight by itself. The aggressiveness and grove combined with some cool fills is just great. Reluctant Hero is not a guitar album. Mostly no solos and rather simple riffs, but usually, very effective and groovy. And that's OK, with three amazing singers, the guitars are an enabler and not the focus.

The Picky Guy

 I feel that the album loose a bit of steam on the second half. I can't really specify why. It is just that the songs are less memorable and less interesting. It's a song specific problem, it's the blending of it all. Of course it's not an innovative or different album. And they don't have always to be. Because it is fun.

Wrap Up Opinion 

Listening to Reluctant Hero made me not only go back to the debut album but also put The Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon and early Sepultura back on my playlist. It follows the same direction as the debut album and the quality is at par or slightly above. So, it's a 80 out of 100 good album and if you like those guys in their bands or the debut album, this is guaranteed fun.  

SCORE: 80/100

Genre: Thrash Metal

Released by Nuclear Blast on November 20th, 2020

Rating System*

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

* slightly adapted on May 24th, 2020 due to statistical review
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