“Kill This…” by XX Gets The Balance Of Riffs And Rage Just Right

There’s something so satisfying about a metal release that doesn’t bury its energy on the first three tracks, the kind that just knows how to keep the punches coming all throughout. For some reason, Kill This… turns out to be exactly that kind of record for those who prefer taking in a record in its entirety.

Bringing this release to life are Nasti XX, frontman of a legendary Chicago metal band, and Dee J Nelson, a guitarist, songwriter, and producer. Perhaps that’s why this debut EP sounds as seasoned as it does, with every track bringing something to the table.

The title track does more than just open the EP; it kicks the door open, lays bare the anger, and makes a full-throated call for resistance. There’s no subtlety in every riff and drum hit, either, making sure whoever hears it gets the message. With its biting references to the American Dream and leaders who feed on public trust, it simply proves that metal can be just as politically charged as it is punishing.

Get A Life follows with the same sharp tongue for those who seem far too invested in someone else’s affairs. The instrumentals scratch a particular itch as the vocals spit out every word with the kind of sneer that makes the message all the more cutting. Hungry Like The Wolf doesn’t let up on the EP’s abrasive instrumental. Think of desire being told through animalistic, predatory imagery that the first listen gives an equally consuming experience.

S.O.S will almost trick you into thinking you’d get a break, but then the guitars start ringing like a warning siren that’s fast and distorted. If you’re wondering what rock n’ roll sounds like with its sleeves rolled up and volume cranked all the way, then it’s probably what you’re looking for. Stand Up feels like a sequel to Kill This…, carrying its call for resistance in every repetition of “Stand up and fight the opposition.” The EP ends with Throw Me Away, and while it’s slower and more whiskey-soaked than the tracks before it, the bitterness and bruising lyrics cut just as deep.

Given the band’s background, it’s no surprise that the EP has that familiar hard-hitting metal sound. What you might not expect is how naturally they bring those influences into today’s metal scene without sounding out of place. The best part? They’re not all about noise; the messages are just as biting as their guitars. There’s a little bit of everything here, from calling out those in power to telling people to mind their own business; they made sure you’d hear it all too well.

All in all, Kill This… is a promising debut from musicians who clearly know their way around this sound. And one thing’s for sure, they won’t be sitting still for long after putting out a record this damn good.