Release Date: May 31st 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Killiad - Tracklisting
1.The Cave 03:58
2.Summoner 07:13
3.Let Me In
4.Merciless Being
5.The Librarian
6.The Sky Becomes An Ocean
Review
Stoner Metallers Killiad’s sound is inspired by the greats such as KYUSS, FU MANCHU and MONSTER MAGNET with a deliciously heavy FUZZ ROCK attitude. The sound is highly unpolished with a direct Garage Rock attitude which you can fully appreciate on their self-titled debut album. The stripped back energy emitting from the speakers demonstrates a Punk Rock drive whilst remaining true to their Stoner Rock/Metal roots. Though, expect Killiad to play heavier, bleaker and gloomier surroundings in the later stages of the record.
The added reliance on Sludge, Psych, Doom and good old fashioned HEAVY RAWK sees a band playing to their strengths even if everything sounds CHAOTIC and with a mighty PISSED OFF attitude. The vocals are grizzled and on the right side of aggressive seediness despite them not moving into harsher realms. Killiad allow themselves to experiment with Progressive textures and overlapping layers of distortion, reverb and sonic surroundings which only adds to the FUCKED UP tone of the whole album.
Killiad truly come alive on tracks such as Summoner, Let Me In, Merciless Being and The Sky Becomes An Ocean where they drift into areas of SABBATHIAN instrumental passages which have certain Proto-Metal themes to them. The mood can be downright FREAKY and CREEPY when Killiad operate with a more Doomedelic mission statement which manifests into the heaviest and aggressive parts of the record.
Imagine if TRUCKFIGHTERS or FU MANCHU were possessed by an evil spirit and that’s how demented, twisted and superbly heavy the FUZZ tone of Killiad’s music ultimately becomes. For a debut recor, Killiad are highly confident with their technical ability and whole creative vision which gives them a highly confident attitude which they fully earn with great songwriting being shown throughout.
As I said earlier, the production values are quite raw and there are some moments where the music drowns out the vocals making it hard to understand what’s being sung. However, that’s my only criticism of an otherwise superbly entertaining record that will no doubt keep the Stoner Rock/Metal underground masses mightily impressed for a long time to come.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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