Kill City
So we were recently put onto Kill City, a band who describe themselves as ‘Nashville Psychobilly, Cow-punk and Twangcore…..music for the savage beast in all of us’ – which sounds interesting to say the least. Going on to say that they sound like ‘Motorhead meeting Waylon Jennings at a Duane Eddy concert’, I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell I was getting myself in for – so figured I’d just hit play and see for myself!
Opening the selection on their Reverb Nation page with Henry Lee we’re set in motion with a solid drum line before the guitars kick in to take the lead, forming a mix which is sure to get you moving, jumping, shaking and begging for more. The bass is the key here, offering up a walking beat which is sure to get crowds pumping, people singing along and a real sense of good time fun being had – it’s one of those tracks that you can’t help but move along to whether or not you’re ready. Stop Breakin’ Down continues this approach only with more of a blues outlook thrown in, forming into a mix which seems to take rock n roll, add a real sense of groove orientated blues to the mix, and results in something which is once again going to get you moving and shaking. There’s something irresistible about this track once again, it’s got that sound which immediately makes you want to get down to a show to see this in person, just to make sure you’re not imagining what you’re hearing.
Throwing in a cover of classic track Pipeline (From Hell), albeit with a slightly changed name, we’re soon flung onwards into Kill City Blues where once again, the band grab you and throw you into a blues crossed with rock n roll approach to psychobilly. It’s striking how they’ve managed to form a sound which is accessible, easy to listen to, and the sort of thing which you can well imagine playing a hell of a lot. There’s a slight punk edge to things here, which only really comes through after a couple of listens – but to me it comes from the lyrical style as well as the vocals, it’s a mix which is once again to pull more people in to check it out.
Upping the pace for Don’t Take Me 4 A Ride, the band seem to be saving the full on, in your face attitude for the latter part of the selection here, offering up a raw approach to things whilst still keeping that groove orientated approach at the heart of the music. This track was my personal favourite of the selection, there’s just something about it which got me moving and cranking the volume ever higher, like a punk tinged rock track that you know you’re going to be singing along to within moments. Back To Hell continues the upbeat approach once again, leading you through another booze fuelled and guitar orientated track designed for dark, smoky clubs where people chant along, love every second of the music and the band reign supreme over all that they survey.
It’s only then left to Wild Wheels and Bottom Of The Bottle to close the selection, both tracks once again managing to showcase the hard and heavy side of things whilst still keeping a firm sense of melody in the mix. As closing tracks these do what they should, leaving you wanting more but knowing that what you’ve just heard has been very, very cool.
I’ll be honest and openly say that psychobilly is one of those genres that has kind of passed me by without me really coming across it, but the more I hear it, the more I’m starting to quite enjoy it! Kill City have put together tracks which manage to cross over several genres, all the time keeping a sense of melody at the heart of the music but at the same time, offering up enough power to keep that heavy urge satisfied. If you’re looking for a band that is going to surprise you at every turn – this could be the one for you!
To find out more about Kill City, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening the selection on their Reverb Nation page with Henry Lee we’re set in motion with a solid drum line before the guitars kick in to take the lead, forming a mix which is sure to get you moving, jumping, shaking and begging for more. The bass is the key here, offering up a walking beat which is sure to get crowds pumping, people singing along and a real sense of good time fun being had – it’s one of those tracks that you can’t help but move along to whether or not you’re ready. Stop Breakin’ Down continues this approach only with more of a blues outlook thrown in, forming into a mix which seems to take rock n roll, add a real sense of groove orientated blues to the mix, and results in something which is once again going to get you moving and shaking. There’s something irresistible about this track once again, it’s got that sound which immediately makes you want to get down to a show to see this in person, just to make sure you’re not imagining what you’re hearing.
Throwing in a cover of classic track Pipeline (From Hell), albeit with a slightly changed name, we’re soon flung onwards into Kill City Blues where once again, the band grab you and throw you into a blues crossed with rock n roll approach to psychobilly. It’s striking how they’ve managed to form a sound which is accessible, easy to listen to, and the sort of thing which you can well imagine playing a hell of a lot. There’s a slight punk edge to things here, which only really comes through after a couple of listens – but to me it comes from the lyrical style as well as the vocals, it’s a mix which is once again to pull more people in to check it out.
Upping the pace for Don’t Take Me 4 A Ride, the band seem to be saving the full on, in your face attitude for the latter part of the selection here, offering up a raw approach to things whilst still keeping that groove orientated approach at the heart of the music. This track was my personal favourite of the selection, there’s just something about it which got me moving and cranking the volume ever higher, like a punk tinged rock track that you know you’re going to be singing along to within moments. Back To Hell continues the upbeat approach once again, leading you through another booze fuelled and guitar orientated track designed for dark, smoky clubs where people chant along, love every second of the music and the band reign supreme over all that they survey.
It’s only then left to Wild Wheels and Bottom Of The Bottle to close the selection, both tracks once again managing to showcase the hard and heavy side of things whilst still keeping a firm sense of melody in the mix. As closing tracks these do what they should, leaving you wanting more but knowing that what you’ve just heard has been very, very cool.
I’ll be honest and openly say that psychobilly is one of those genres that has kind of passed me by without me really coming across it, but the more I hear it, the more I’m starting to quite enjoy it! Kill City have put together tracks which manage to cross over several genres, all the time keeping a sense of melody at the heart of the music but at the same time, offering up enough power to keep that heavy urge satisfied. If you’re looking for a band that is going to surprise you at every turn – this could be the one for you!
To find out more about Kill City, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
