Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

The Killing Tree

The Romance Of Helen Trent (2002)
One Day Savior

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

Contributed by: theundergroundscene
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 4th 2003

One Day Savior have outdone theirselves with this release. I had no idea what to expect from this release, this being my very first exposure to The Killing Tree. After listening closely to this CD, I have fallen in love with it, and it has easily made my top ten for 2002.

One of the aspects in which The Romance of Helen Trent shines is the way in which it doesn't fall too much into any particular category. There is a blend of numerous musical elements at work here, which in the past I've found doesn't really work to well. Here, however, it's absolutely captivating. It's a little bit of rock, a little bit of hardcore, a little bit of emo-rock, a little bit of dirty punk, a little bit of acoustic work thrown in, and all energy. You can't help but feel a rush of adrenaline when you listen to this CD, and you can tell that these guys play with all the energy they have, even if you've never seen them live (which I''m convinced is a phenomenal event to behold). The rhythm is a fast paced one, which sets the stage for some great breakdowns. It's not your run of the mill "chugga chugga" variety though. The guitars are very clean and fresh, and the transitions are not awkward in the slightest. For an example of these numerous elements at work, check out the seventh track, "The Perfect," one of my favorite tracks on the CD.

The vocals have as much variety as the music. According to my sources, three of the four people in this band handle the vocals, but they all sound like one person, which helps them to be much more enjoyable. On the majority of the CD, the vocals are screamed, but not so much that you need the cover jacket to understand the lyrics. They are also, at times, spoken as if someone were reading free-verse poetry, and at other points they are sung. All of these instances work well for the songs, and you see a fantastic mix of it again in "The Perfect."

The lyrics seem to deal with the ugly side of relationships between people (both romantic and friend-based). It's not the most original topic out there, granted, but the lyrics are jus so angry that it helps make the perfect backdrop for this very angry music. You definitely feel the anger, especially in the last song, "Cacophony (The Death of Affection)." This song certainly helps the CD to end with the "bang!" with which it should end. In addition to all this, there are sound samples throughout the CD that help to intensify the music.

From start to finish this is an incredible album. Fast, slow, heavy, melodic, angry and beautiful, it leaves you wanting more by the end of it. Fans of everyone from Suicide Note to The Hope Conspiracy to Dillinger Escape Plan will love this CD.

Standout Tracks:

#3 - Switchblade Architect
#6 - Violets are Blue
#7 - The Perfect
#9 - Cacophony (The Death of Affection)

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

LeightonESmith (August 25, 2009)

A new album please?

tooth967 (July 29, 2008)

can anybody upload "The romance of helen trent" for me. my email is: tooth967@yahoo.com. it would be greatly appreciated

Anonymous (December 12, 2005)

stop

thatswack (January 7, 2005)

I love this album and their EP. And the singer's other band (well, band, because KT broke up) Rise Against is even more incredible.

Anonymous (July 17, 2004)

A fuckin amazing band, they need to be heard more!!

Anonymous (May 6, 2004)

this album is def. nothing short of amazing! people that compare em to rise against go to hell......they are two differnet bands of two different styles.....the killing tree is to hardcore as rise against is to punk! the new rise against is to be released on dreamworks so well see if they still got it..casue afi lost it and jimmy eat world...well need i say more?hahahaha

Anonymous (July 13, 2003)

wow...is this ever good.

bluetunehead (July 11, 2003)

this album and band are damn impressive. it's ashame a couple of the members spend most of their time in rise against because the killing tree is easily just as good if not better.

Anonymous (July 8, 2003)

yes, I agree. The Killing Tree are great. My first exposure to them was at the fireside this past winter. I went based solely on good reviews I'd read. Man, it was worth it. I can still picture Tim screaming, "Flip.....the..... switch!" while looking down at the blur of sweaty, cathartic energy.

Anonymous (July 8, 2003)

I've seen them a few times and Tim plays guitar with them(I did see them one where he didn't play guitar. It's a pretty good live show, but nothing too crazy. A lot of times it's because not many people listen to them, even here in Chicago, so they don't draw a huge crowd. As for the singing, live Tim does most of the vocals and the other guys just do backups. Great album!

GreenVandal (July 8, 2003)

I really wish Tim would make this band his priority, as they are fucking incredible. Rise Against is ok...but this is where it is at.

Anonymous (July 7, 2003)

This is pretty much just a side project for Tim. I like RA, but I do think this is much better. One of the best hardcore records of '02.

Anonymous (July 7, 2003)

Without a doubt, these guys are the best hardcore band to come out in the past year. And in case no one knows, they released an EP on Eyeball Records in May that's just as good, albeit obviously shorter, than Romance of Helen Trent.

Anonymous (July 6, 2003)

I love the killing tree. I hate rise against. Well not hate...I just think they sound like Good Riddance if Good Riddance had a better singer. but anyways, go killing tree go!

funkisdead (July 6, 2003)

a raping context? thats fucking ingenious. i think all bands should be compared like that...
for example, dillinger four and new found glory... mars volta and sparta...
these bouts to rob each other of manhood should be televised on fox. primetime. or whatever channel will and grace is on... right after that, maybe.

Anonymous (July 6, 2003)

this really is good. In a raping contest the Killing Tree beats Rise Against easily.

Anonymous (July 5, 2003)

Wow this fucking rock, if anyone have ever heard of Taken they would probably sound this good with this kind of production. And like the guy who said why wasn't this reviwed earlier, stands at a very good question

Anonymous (July 5, 2003)

i havent seen one bad comment about this cd yet so im gonna say this.

Shit I cant think of anything to say bad about TKT because they are simply amazing.

"I never noticed the color of your eyes,until I saw them in the reflection of this knife"
WOW