How do you define the sound of Chicago hardcore? It’s hard to put a label on it, as the city has been cranking out some of the best and most diverse bands in the genre. Artists like Harm’s Way, Convicted, and Weekend Nachos are pushing the envelope for hardcore in the Midwest. But one band stands above them all – The Killer.
Formed in 2002, The Killer is one of the longest standing, most established hardcore bands in the region. A lot can be said about such longevity, especially for a band that let five years lapse between records. So what is it about The Killer, anyway? How could a band take so much time off and still be even more relevant than they were five years go? It’s easy – write an indestructible record and have a devoted hometown fan base that supports your every move.
After five long years since their debut full-length was released due to career and family obligations, The Killer is back with a new album chock full of dark destruction: Not All Who Are Lost... More infuriated and merciless than their critically acclaimed previous effort, Better Judged By Twelve Than Carried By Six, this new album is the perfect mix of all things brutal: low-end heavy hardcore and straight up dirge mixed with some of the heaviest, most destructive breakdowns not heard since the days of Merauder and Integrity.
Musically, Not All Who Are Lost… is much different than The Killer’s debut album – darker, doomier, more mature, and definitely more pissed off.
Guitarist Shane Merrill said, “It wasn’t necessarily a conscious thing for this album to be so dark. Some of our past work was more straightforward, but those past releases definitely pointed to where this album was headed.”
Also a direct contributor to the stylistic changes on this album is the member changes that The Killer saw. The solidified new lineup includes veterans Luke Gray on vocals, Shane Merrill on guitar and Tim Remis on drums, while Eugene Marino was brought into the fold on guitar and newcomer Andrew Morrissey on bass.
Merrill said, “The Killer has always and will always include Luke, Tim, and myself. None of us are interested in doing the band without the other two. Our lineup at this point is really solid, as Eugene has been in the band for a couple of years now and brought some really sick stuff to the table for the new record. Andrew is a great bass player and that position has been our biggest revolving door. We all have great confidence that Andrew will be the end of that trend.”
The Killer is highly influenced by the city they call home: Chicago. With the hardcore scene in 2009 leaning towards more straight-aheadhardcore bands, there’s no doubt that The Killer will still reign supreme in their city.
“We are not straightforward dudes, and I doubt that any of our fans will be shocked by our progression on Not All WhoAre Lost…. And most importantly, I think people see our genuine passion for hardcore and music in general. Passion and conviction are audible, people know we are not fake”, said Merrill.
2009 will see TheKiller touring throughout the Midwest with jaunts across the East and West coasts in addition to a coveted appearance at the This Is Hardcore Fest in Philadelphia this coming August. Not All Who AreLost... hits stores on June 23rd from Organized Crime Records and is undeniably worth the wait.
www.MySpace.com/TheKillerHC
http://www.organizedcrimerecords.com/
THE KILLER - UPCOMING SHOWS
JUNE
5 Metamora, IL @ Johnny's
6 Kansas City, MO @ The Beaumont Club w/ Testament, Unearth
19 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen w/ Harms Way
AUGUST
15 Philadelphia, PA @ This Is Hardcore Fest
Formed in 2002, The Killer is one of the longest standing, most established hardcore bands in the region. A lot can be said about such longevity, especially for a band that let five years lapse between records. So what is it about The Killer, anyway? How could a band take so much time off and still be even more relevant than they were five years go? It’s easy – write an indestructible record and have a devoted hometown fan base that supports your every move.
After five long years since their debut full-length was released due to career and family obligations, The Killer is back with a new album chock full of dark destruction: Not All Who Are Lost... More infuriated and merciless than their critically acclaimed previous effort, Better Judged By Twelve Than Carried By Six, this new album is the perfect mix of all things brutal: low-end heavy hardcore and straight up dirge mixed with some of the heaviest, most destructive breakdowns not heard since the days of Merauder and Integrity.
Musically, Not All Who Are Lost… is much different than The Killer’s debut album – darker, doomier, more mature, and definitely more pissed off.
Guitarist Shane Merrill said, “It wasn’t necessarily a conscious thing for this album to be so dark. Some of our past work was more straightforward, but those past releases definitely pointed to where this album was headed.”
Also a direct contributor to the stylistic changes on this album is the member changes that The Killer saw. The solidified new lineup includes veterans Luke Gray on vocals, Shane Merrill on guitar and Tim Remis on drums, while Eugene Marino was brought into the fold on guitar and newcomer Andrew Morrissey on bass.
Merrill said, “The Killer has always and will always include Luke, Tim, and myself. None of us are interested in doing the band without the other two. Our lineup at this point is really solid, as Eugene has been in the band for a couple of years now and brought some really sick stuff to the table for the new record. Andrew is a great bass player and that position has been our biggest revolving door. We all have great confidence that Andrew will be the end of that trend.”
The Killer is highly influenced by the city they call home: Chicago. With the hardcore scene in 2009 leaning towards more straight-aheadhardcore bands, there’s no doubt that The Killer will still reign supreme in their city.
“We are not straightforward dudes, and I doubt that any of our fans will be shocked by our progression on Not All WhoAre Lost…. And most importantly, I think people see our genuine passion for hardcore and music in general. Passion and conviction are audible, people know we are not fake”, said Merrill.
2009 will see TheKiller touring throughout the Midwest with jaunts across the East and West coasts in addition to a coveted appearance at the This Is Hardcore Fest in Philadelphia this coming August. Not All Who AreLost... hits stores on June 23rd from Organized Crime Records and is undeniably worth the wait.
www.MySpace.com/TheKillerHC
http://www.organizedcrimerecords.com/
THE KILLER - UPCOMING SHOWS
JUNE
5 Metamora, IL @ Johnny's
6 Kansas City, MO @ The Beaumont Club w/ Testament, Unearth
19 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen w/ Harms Way
AUGUST
15 Philadelphia, PA @ This Is Hardcore Fest
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