Where to start with Generation Kill? That’s a toughie. The phrase ‘Generation Kill’ is one that is far more prevalent in the USA then the UK, referring to the TV series that depicted the early “glory days” of the US Marine Corps spearheaded invasion of Iraq, a nick name first given to young gung-ho military personnel who initially adopted the moniker as a badge of honour, then as a mantle of suffering, shame, and defiance against their political overseers. The band Generation Kill is one that could easily appeal to the macho meat-head advocates of the early euphoria of that act of war, but only if they just listened to the riffs and ignored the lyrics and message!
From the opening track ‘Born to Serve’, the music is riff and hook laden, all supported by a groove heavy bass and drums, and thus a natural successor to the punch in the face metal of Pantera, a band that far too often attracted muscle bound moshers intent on wanton pit destruction. However, the band is so much more then that; Rob Dukes, the brooding, stage stalking, snarling successor to Zetro as Exodus vocalist may sound like he is brainlessly waving a flag, but only if you don’t listen to the lyrics; get past the angry snarl, and there is a genuine eloquence and ire against warmongering there to be heard. By the time the initially far slower, Crowbar like blast of ‘Prophets of War’ kicks in, it is more then apparent that the band is not just firing out an album to induce a sweat and elbow laced mosh pit, but rather, trying to put across a message and invite every listener to think of the consequences of actions carried out in their name. The fact this plea is constantly supported by a slamming beat is just a bonus.
Some may assume that the fact this band has as their figurehead a vocalist who spends much of his time fronting one of the originating bands of thrash will be nothing but an exercise in speed metal sensibility; that is not the case folks, as early on in the album ‘Death Comes Calling’ allows the band to get their doom on with dark, detuned guitars, the screams of “drowning in alcohol” invoking the despairing anti-addiction cries of Wino era Saint Vitus, tempered with the mournfulness of Alice in Chains. ‘Friendly Fire’ turns that slower approach on its head with a sub three minute assault of thrash, complete with blasting group chants and speed driven technical solos, a real neck wrecker of a track.
However, the song that has had me hitting repeat on my player over and over is ‘Carny Love’; where this dark, haunting, brooding, and plain and simply weird track fits into the album as a whole is anyone’s idea! It’s not laced with the political opinion of earlier tracks; rather it sounds like the band had been watching Tod Browning’s ‘Freaks’ on a continuous loop interspersed with early Alice Cooper album sessions! The song has the sound of a discordant fairground organ played by a mad ring master, and lyrics that even made me flinch at their graphical imagery of circus side show mutilation. I’m a person who would consider themselves pretty much inured to the inequities of the world, and on a professional level has had to deal with some of the darker results of man’s inhumanity to man, but that track had even me grimacing, a testament to Generation Kill’s lyricism and delivery.
‘We’re All Gonna Die’ is, contrary to a large portion of thrash and speed leaning metal sensibilities and reviews, an album that requires, indeed, demands thoughtfulness to get the most out of it. If you must, ignore the lyrics and just head bang away; alternatively, take out the ear plugs and listen to the lyrics, it will be worth your while.
(8/10 Spenny)
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