Album Notes

Of course, conceptual intelligence can only take an album so far. After all, it’s about the music combined with the ideology and aesthetic, not just one of those factors alone. Unlike many other bands that are great in the last two features but not in the first, Killers By Trade combines all three into a very good, well crafted package that I can listen to again and again. Many bands play heavy metal in a rock format; Killers By Trade does just the opposite, with bar rock overdriven and distorted into a propulsive heavy metal mold, like a goth-edged Motörhead playing in the local Lodge. Riffs are rock-based, but massively amped up in speed and aggression, aided by a pounding, obviously synthetic drum machine ala Ministry which constantly pushes forward with thundering double bass and cymbal fills. There’s lots of tremolo riffing, though, as previously stated, the melodies are rock based, and they’re generally supported by an additional lead guitar line that adds a great deal to the music. Vocals are like a cleaner Lemmy, and yet I don’t feel that they would improve with any added roughness: they seem fine as they are, and I don’t find the vocal melodies cloying.

Killers By Trade is the first band in a very long time that I’ve actually been interested in the lyrics of. There’s a logical, steady aesthetic on an interesting subject, and it’s something I would love to see explored more. And unlike other bands with such precise concepts, this is actually one that I feel has a strong connection between music and concept, unlike other bands where a concept is hastily slapped over existing music. All aspects of Killers By Trade go hand in hand, and that’s something I can definitely appreciate.

From a Review by Noktorn 9/12/07