ALBUM REVIEW: Reluctant Hero – Killer Be Killed

In a year dominated by stellar sub-genre albums, it’s refreshing to see 2020 near its end with a bruising, classic heavy metal effort. KILLER BE KILLED are the walking embodiment of the term super-group. From their all-star cast line up to recruiting famed metal producer Josh Wilbur [LAMB OF GOD, GOJIRA] to sit behind the mixing desk: KILLER BE KILLED might be the closest metal gets to the Avengers.

Similar to Marvel‘s greatest task force, each member of KILLER BE KILLED brings their own unique persona to the table (no one’s quite as handsome as Chris Hemsworth though, sorry lads). Splitting vocal duties into three sounds like an overload waiting to happen, but Reluctant Hero is as balanced as it is punching. Max Cavalera, Troy Sanders, and Greg Puciato bring the kind of varied qualities to the record that you’d expect – but no one is weighed too heavily on.

MASTODON bassist/vocalist Sanders plays his patented croons off against Cavalera‘s rasping growls as if they’ve been sharing the mic for decades. Album opener Deconstructing Self-Destruction pounds its way through four and a half minutes of stiff, brazen metal. It’s got the classic stomp of GOJIRA‘s Silvera while grasping the chorus sweeps of modern MACHINE HEAD, it’s a metal fan’s wet dream.

That’s not to suggest the record is a one-stop shop of heavy metal fervour though. In fact, Reluctant Hero makes use of all the tools at its disposal. To not include some form of Greg Puciato reliving his hectic, punk aggression all over THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN‘s discography would have been criminal. And the 67 second blast of noise rock that is Animus fits the bill.

Though cocooned in a metal shell, Reluctant Hero doesn’t leave its variety there though. The closing, title track takes the most methodical, solemn approach on the record, whereas Filthy Vagabond mimics DEVILDRIVER levels of groove. It’s all tied together by drummer Ben Koller, who puts in the MVP performance on the album. Vastly different to his pace riddled experiences with CONVERGE, Koller‘s role here rests much more on precision. And as he rattles through his snare drum on the likes of The Great Purge – his presence becomes vital.

With such an abundance of talent at play, and such a varying degree of styles to fit in: Reluctant Hero is an often remarkable effort. Going in, you’d be realistic if your greatest hope was that the record doesn’t sound like it’s got too many cooks in the kitchen. But in actuality – Reluctant Hero is one of the premiere heavy metal releases of the year. Its insistence on accentuating its positives results in a record that packs almost every punch you could want, and a few you’d have never seen coming.

Rating: 8/10

Reluctant Hero is set for release on November 20th via Nuclear Blast Records. 

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