Killer Be Killed – Reluctant Hero
Release Date: 20th November 2020
Label: Nuclear Blast
Pre-Order
Genre: Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, Crossover Thrash.
FFO: Mastodon, Machine Head, Cavalera Conspiracy, Chimaira.
Review By: Ryan Shearer
What a surprise this was! Like many people familiar with Killer Be Killed, it was certainly not expected we would be hearing a sophomore album from the supergroup. Max Cavalera of Sepultura and Soulfly, Greg Puciato of The Black Queen and formerly The Dillinger Escape Plan and Troy Sanders of Mastodon re-unite for Reluctant Hero, enlisting Ben Koller of Converge on drums for album #2. Supergroups like this are often fleeting, releasing an album and disappearing off into other projects or back to their main groups, so a follow-up to their 2014 self-titled album was something to get excited about. Their debut was fantastic, I reviewed it on this website’s previous incarnation and still remember how heavy and tight the album was. You can imagine how happy I was to discover Reluctant Hero is even better.
Deconstructing Self-Destruction, the opening track, sounds like Killer Be Killed at their most recognisable. Max screams his lungs out, riffs constantly pounding away, like a hammer hitting in a troublesome nail. Dream Gone Bad is far from pop, but it’s the most accessible track on the album. Troy really showcases his vocal talents before Greg takes over on a catchy and incredibly memorable chorus.
Inner Calm from Outer Storms is doomy and brooding. The sludgy bass creates a tension from the start, anchoring the dark and gothic melodies before it transforms into face-crushing thrash. From A Crowded Wound goes hard like a motherfucker. The opening riff isn’t anything flashy, but hits so damn hard. The abrasive, palm-muted rhythm and the drone-esque chords sound so heavy it would turn the head of any heavy music fan. With moments of harsh noise on a bed of solid groove metal, it shows a side of the band that hasn’t previously been explored to this extent.
Reluctant Hero is the closing track and the first time on the album it really stops to reflect. The tension is slowly built, released, and re-built for the second half. It’s beautifully melodic, with multiple layers of vocal harmonies creating an emotionally satisfying end to the album.
With 3 recognisable, charismatic frontmen all vying for centre stage, you’d think there might be clashes, points where the vocals are competing for the mic; not in Reluctant Hero. Max, Greg & Troy each make their time in the spotlight count, and give it everything. Max throughout screams like a demon, and Greg flexes his harsh vocal prowess he masterfully honed in The Dillinger Escape Plan during Inner Calm From Outer Storms. Newcomer Ben has managed to imprint his own style with tribal, intricate patterns adding a new spice to the Killer Be Killed recipe.
It’s incredibly focused on groove and pulse, with not a lot of focus given to lead guitar which isn’t really a big deal, considering the rhythm side of the album is so consistently on point. The album isn’t perfect (there are a few moments that feel a little filler-esque) but it’s massively enjoyable. The riffs are heavy, the mix and production are great, and the hooks will get stuck in your head whether you like it or not.
Reluctant Hero feels at times like you’re being thrown around a boat during a violent storm, with brief moments where the clouds break and there is a moment of respite. However, it’s a storm you’d be happy to get swept away in.
(5 / 5)
