The Killing Gift

Who Watches The Watchmen? (2004)
Immigrant Sun

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Contributed by: FortyMinutesWest
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on August 24th 2004

What’s the deal with the rabbits? The CD and sleeve of this album are each adorned with some sort evil/deformed/omniscient rabbits. I have no idea what that’s supposed to signify, maybe the band just likes really bad movies. That aside, that weird cover art did its job, as it got me interested in what this stuff actually sounded like.

As it turns out, The Killing Gift plays groove oriented post-hardcore with some pop sensibilities. Not much really stuck out about this band, aside from the singing. The female vocals are extremely well done, but they’re really the only standout quality that The Killing Gift has to offer on their debut. That’s not to say that this is a bad album, it’s just really unremarkable. These songs are well played, but they aren’t all that interesting. I’ve heard a lot of this stuff before, and I’ve heard it done better. Retracing the steps that others have taken doesn’t lead to the immediate writing off of a band for me, but if you’re going to do this, you need to be able to hold the listeners attention. However, the band does show flashes of what it can do with the track “Where’s The Goot” which kicks of with really catchy riff, followed by the most memorable song on the entire album. This track seems to burst at the seams with energy, if they could harness this same approach on a full album, they could really have something.

All in all, this band shows quite a bit of talent on this release, but they simply don’t do enough with it to warrant repeat listens, if they were to build on the foundation they’ve laid down with this, they could probably be huge, but that remains to be seen.

My Favorite Track: Where’s The Goot

Smoke That Christmas Tree MP3.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (March 13, 2005)

I just saw this band in IL a month or so ago and they were so good live, I didn't buy the cd then because I spent all my money to getin in the place...I saw this record cover there and remembered (the art is awesome!) I listened to the songs online and now I have to go get it! The christmas carol cover isn't on the track listings though on amazon or anywhere, is it an extra track?

Anonymous (January 24, 2005)

Rad!

Anonymous (September 23, 2004)

Fucking Awesome!

Blarg (August 30, 2004)

eh...i saw this band when they came by with what the kids want, and they were blown away by said latter band...not terrible, but nothing to make me more than marginally interested...

Anonymous (August 28, 2004)

jaysin is post-jason

FortyMinutesWest (August 28, 2004)

If your name is actually spelled Jaysin, I think you have some more important things to be upset about.

Anonymous (August 27, 2004)

chillax

Anonymous (August 27, 2004)

Okay, now genres and sub genres of music suck in general. But I am starting to completely despise the term "post hardcore" maybe I shouldn't let this out right here, but I got this record a couple of weeks ago, and I think its really good but my issue isn't with this band in particular because so many bands get the label 'post hardcore'. In this case, sure iIt's melodic, it's probably hardcore kids playing it, but to me I hear more like a perfect circle, tool, etc. or at LEAST just as much as it resembles quicksand! or any other band that actually IS a post hardcore band. I do hear HINTS of texas is the reason in killing gifts record. but nowadays every review of a band I read has the term 'post hardcore'. ITS OVER! stop using it to describe bands! it sucks! I actually read a review on another website of a band I can't remember the name of where they said "early 90's post hardcore" thats a fucking oxymoron! unfortunately they dont have these forums to vent on like this one. so unless you want to call something post post post post post post POST hardcore. feel free, but then everyone has to figure out what post we're at in the hardcore process. someone should write something more long winded about this.
--jaysin