Kittie have emerged once again with this seven-track EP that
shows their experimental side as they blend their familiar brand of death metal
with a gothic and instrumental touch. Formed in 1997, this London, Ontario three
piece prove that girls can expel their rage with as much gut wrenching brutality
as any testosterone driven group in music today.
Still actively touring with the success of their previous
album “Oracle,” Kittie returns with this collection of remixed and live
tracks recorded at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. in August of 2002. The CD
starts out with the remix version of "Safe" by KMFDM’s Sasha that
sheds a different, more electronic light on this song that has become a favorite
of the legions of Kittie fans. It has an experimental metallic dance sound, but
the song itself really focuses on the voice of Morgan Lander, highlighting the
range and timber she has developed since the last album. The song has an
appealing mix of industrial metal. The next track is a “radio edit” version
of “Safe,” and my favorite off this effort. The focus shifts with the next
track into the brutal onslaught of live metal, and the ruthless “No Name”
followed by “Severed,” which they pull off live without missing a beat, and
next up is the brutal "What I Always Wanted," followed by "In
Winter" and "Pain."
The tracks definitely grow on you after repeatedly listening.
My favorite is the creepy, malevolent, piano driven “Safe.” I think this is
just one more step in the ladder of Kittie’s success, a follow up to their
debut, "Spit," and Sophomore effort, "Oracle." The EP also
includes live video footage of the group playing "Charlotte,"
"Mouthful of Poison" and "Wolves." They really succeeded in
capturing their live energy on a recording, a rare occurrence. It’s a mix of
disturbing and haunting vocals blended with throat ripping screams, and guitar
driven arrangements, it’s trademark Kittie.
