Review – KITTIE : “In The Black”

Kittie – In The Black
released Sept 15, 2009 on E1 Entertainment

You ask people to name one all-female metal group that’s still in existence, and those that don’t first hark back to Drain STH or any various riot grrl acts of the 1990s will default to Kittie. This is the issue most take up with the band: they have a lot to answer for amidst post-milennial estrogenicidal metal.

Let’s get this out of the way: In the Black is Kittie’s best album to date. Of course, you have to remember that we’re judging by Kittie standards here, so that’s kinda like being the valedictorian in summer school.

Despite playing harder than ever before, they still feel flat, reserved and contrived. “My Plague” is now arguably their heaviest song, with a mean galloping riff and vocals that are mostly dark and darker. I wish that lasted longer. You know, Gwen Stefani isn’t a bad vocalist, but I don’t need to hear her br00tal understudy in a metal band. They resume their better formula in “Forgive and Forget”, as well as the closing track, in an overall trifective effort to keep the album buoyant, but it still tastes like high fructose corn syrup surrounding the arsenic.

I’m gonna stay hopeful, though. This could be a bitter new beginning for the young Canadians, who unfortunately just lost their father/tour manager one year ago. Time will tell how the band catalyzes.

FCC: 12
Try 2, 3 , 6.
1 is an intro.

01. Kingdom Come
02. My Plague
03. Cut Throat
04. Die My Darling
05. Sorrow I Know
06. Forgive And Forget
07. Now Or Never
08. Falling Down
09. Sleepwalking
10. Whiskey Love Song
11. Ready Aim Riot
12. The Truth

Rating: