ALBUM REVIEW: Death Pill – Death Pill
The power of music can never be understated. In times of great turmoil it can be seen as an escape and in times of oppression and abject misery it can also be seen as a voice for those who may otherwise go unheard. A perfect example of both of these is the Ukrainian band DEATH PILL. The band have managed to write and record their self-titled debut album in the midst of the invasion of their very home nation and in true DIY punk spirit they have stood their ground and exorcised their demons into nine tracks of concentrated rage and ferocity.
From the very opening chords of Dirty Rotten Youth, the weighty, heavily distorted guitar tone of guitarist/vocalist Mariana Navrotskaya demands attention. The aggression in the guitars is very fitting for the track, as it cuts through Anastasiya Kohmenko’s booming drums and the dirty, rumbling bassline laid down by Natalya Seryakova to create a powerful juggernaut of melodic hardcore. The display of raw power continues with Miss Revolt. The sheer aggression contained in this minute and a half of music is impressive to say the least, with the tremendous vocal display from Navrotskaya bouncing off of the abrasive instrumental which includes some of the finest moments of drumming on the entire release.
It’s A Joke is one of the finest moments on the album. The sound of boots running alongside the dirty sound of the bass gives way to an upbeat, old-school punk song. This is a real throwback song that has the kind of anarchistic attitude that is so missing in most modern punk music and also provides a welcome change of pace to the album just when it was called for. However, things quickly shift back to the more upbeat and violent with Go Your Way which is arguably the strongest track on the entire album. This is where the band really show off their chops as musicians with a more thrash-influenced approach, including some riffs that sound like they have come straight from the Bay Area in the late 1980s. The fact that the band can switch their style so drastically and make it seem so seamless is a testament to the ability of the songwriters themselves. With this kind of musical ground being covered in such a short amount of time it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the band could jump on any kind of tour they wanted, from metal shows to punk and hardcore and everything in between.
The closing track on the album Would You Marry Me? sees the band once again wearing their straight up punk hat. The chorus is as infectious as any pop song you are likely to hear on the radio, just with a heavily distorted backdrop and the kind of attitude and swagger that we have come to expect from the band over the course of the previous eight songs. It feels like the most perfect way to close off an album that has covered so much musical territory in such a short amount of time.
The fact that DEATH PILL have managed to record an album at all with the current dire situation in their home country is nothing short of incredible. However, in true punk rock spirit the band have taken a stand and stuck a metaphorical middle finger up to those who look to destroy their very way of life. This eponymous album is a real masterstroke and a sign not only that DEATH PILL are here to stay but that they are going to take a few scalps with them. Pay attention to this band.
Rating: 9/10
Death Pill is set for release on February 24th via New Heavy Sounds.
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