Fire by Kittie | Album Review
The Canadian metal band’s first album in 13 years comes back with a righteous vengeance.
As I mentioned in my recent review of the latest Knocked Loose album, modern day heavy metal can often feel monotonous, overly reliant on the same riff ideas, the same vocal tones, the same grotesque subject matter. Consequently, I gravitate much more towards bands and vocalists who defy convention and mix things up a little.
Canadian nu-metal quartet Kittie have long been a favorite of mine for just that reason, as what could mix up the male-dominated world of metal more than an all-female lineup? Led by the Lander sisters, frontwoman Morgan and drummer Mercedes, I’ve always been impressed by the pure musical talent on display in their work. Look at their 2009 single “Cut Throat” for evidence. The pounding guitar riffs, intensely technical drumming, and Morgan Lander’s fantastic ability to shift between screams and clean vocals all make for a punishing sonic experience.
However, the path of Kittie’s musical career has been far from linear, and contains plenty of disappointment and even tragedy. They achieved significant popularity in the early to mid-2000s, when nu-metal was at its commercial peak. Unfortunately, they struggled to transition out of the nu-metal era, largely for reasons out of…
