To say I was stoked to learn that Canadian metallers Kittie were releasing a new album would be something of an understatement. Their “indefinite hiatus” from 2017 through 2022 was such a barren time for rock, relieved only by a documentary and a one-off gig. With headline dates and festival appearances on the horizon, it seems as this Ontario quartet are very much back on the scene, and with the ten-track Fire primed and ready for release, Kittie are returning to claim their crown.
If there was any doubt that Kittie are on a mission, then they’re blown away the circular riff which heralds the arrival of ‘Fire’. There’s no time for elongated introductions or other such preliminaries, just a track that swings like a huge wrecking ball, and it’s one that could floor even the hardiest critic. It’s a confident opener and one that very much marks the band’s return, their flag is planted and snapping in the wind, and they’re almost daring someone to try to uproot it. Most importantly, Kittie haven’t missed a beat; it sounds like they’ve never been away, and the thirteen years (count ‘em!) since their last full length are just crumbling away. In fact, the time that’s passed has only increased Kittie’s prowess; guitarist and singer Morgan Lander’s vocals still have a nice rasp, only it sounds as if her vocal cords have been marinated in oak-aged whiskey. When used in conjunction with drummer Mercedes Lander’s unearthly growl, they make for an arresting affair and complement Nick Raskulinecz’s (Rush/Korn) production very well, and along with Tara McLeod (guitar) and Ivy Vujic (Bass) create a warm sound and you can almost feel the heat radiating from the disc.
While there’s plenty of variety on offer over these ten tracks, most of the songs rock along at a similar pace, and that gives the album a unified, cohesive feel; thankfully, Kittie aren’t the kind of band to go soft and throw a ballad into the mix. Each of these songs is like a well aimed blow to the solar plexus with ‘Wound’ being particularly punchy, but even here there’s light and shade with quieter moments acting as a foil to make the heavier passages all the more crushing. It all adds up to a multifaceted listen, and one that shines its (dark) light in all directions. ‘Eyes Wide Open’ makes for a cataclysmic conclusion that strangely leaves the listener satisfied but hungry for more.
A welcome return from one of metal’s most inventive bands, Fire finds the band burning brightly and with a flame that’s going to be hard to extinguish.
- Fire is released via Sumerian Records on 21st June 2024.
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Track List:
1. Fire
2. I Still Wear This Crown
3. Falter
4. Vultures
5. We Are Shadows
6. Wound
7. One Foot in the Grave
8. Are You Entertained?
9. Grime
10. Eyes Wide Open
