KITTIE
Fire
SUMERIAN
9/10
METAL: Of the original female movers and shakers within the metal industry, none stick out more prominently than the all-female tour de force of Kittie. Jumping onto the scene in 1999, Kittie set out to not only bring a different kind of energy, but to prove to the world that in metal, women could have a prominent role in shaping its sound. While releases like Spit, Oracles, and Funeral for Yesterday showed the young band growing up and finding that balance between its antagonistic and melodic elements, 2011’s I’ve Failed You became the record that cemented their place within the metal industry. While the success of the gritty, blackened, and ethereally rich release garnered the band the attention they rightly deserved, Kittie went silent after the release for almost 13 years, leaving fans to wonder if the metal queens would ever make another album. From that long hiatus, Kittie has reemerged from the dark clouds of uncertainty with a new label, sound, and record, Fire.
Opening tracks “Fire” and “I Still Wear This Crown” have a renewed sense of power and confidence. The combination of gentle and intense vocals, along with powerful guitar work, highlights a band that has been honing its musical skills during its time away. Right from the start on Fire, Kittle showcases a new and expansive sound that sets the tone for the entire album.
Kittie continues their melting pot of vocal and instrumental dissonance on “Falter” and “We Are Shadows.” With petulant guitar riffs and technically precise percussive work, Kittie offsets the multi-range vocals with the most crippling and progressive track on the album.
“One Foot In the Grave” and the majorly heavy attraction “Grime” best cement the various creative elements that make up such a talented band. While the vocals belong in tandem with most metal bands, the contrasting melodic nature speaks to something richer and much discordant that branches into other genres. This variance is what has created the best moments on the album with “Grime,” one of the most massive efforts the band has created in their careers.
In “Eyes Wide Open,” the band delivers another powerful and vindictive track, capping off the sonic voyage with diabolical intensity. This song highlights the band’s fierce vocal approach, providing a confrontational and heavy-hitting end to the already solid metal experience.
Fire is a rebirth and a great fresh start by the metal veterans. While this is a new beginning for the experienced Katie, Fire is definitive proof that the band has done its homework and is ready to conquer the world of metal—unbent, unbroken, and fearless in their resolve to keep moving forward, creating the music they love. ~ Sammie Star
