Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock	Produced By: Jamey Perrenot
Record Label: Pero	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2024	Artist Website: Kalamity Kills
Tracks: 11	Rating: 85%
Running Time: 42:13

Whether your musical tastes trend towards eighties influenced melodic had rock or metal with a modern edge, the September of 2024 Pero Recordings self-titled Kalamity Kills debut full length fits the bill.  Representing the ‘band identity’ of veteran vocalist Jamie Rowe (Guardian & Adriangale), Kalamity Kills delivers ‘heavy guitars, pounding drums, and passionate vocals’ while lyrically focusing on ‘love, loss, pain, self-destruction, hope, and ultimately, redemption’ (quoting the groups press material either way).  Further details from Rowe: ‘This album is most certainly about my journey through life.  It’s about the deep valleys and the mountaintop seasons. Raw and unfiltered, it’s a musical story about finding hope in this chaotic world we are living in. It could be anyone’s story, but it is told with my own accent throughout’.

Digitally released in 2023 but not on CD until 2024, Kalamity Kills highlights Rowe’s finely honed songwriting - I find him vastly underrated in this regard and am surprised his noted main bands did not solicit more of his material - in addition to a pair of well-conceived cover tracks.  Said ‘band identity’ realizes in the host of guest musicians to appear, including guitarists Tony Palacios (Guardian) and Ace Von Johnson (L.A. Guns) and drummers Ray Luzier (Korn) and Greg Upchurch (Three Doors Down).  ).  Joining Rowe on vocals are Luke Easter (ex Tourniquet), Julie Lauren Bullock (The Foxies, The Dead Deads) and Kiarelly Castillo (Conquer Divide).  Producer, engineer and multi-instrumentalist (guitars, bass and synthesizers) Jamey Perrenot rounds out the Kalamity Kills roster.

Opener “Anthem” is aptly entitled.  Starting slowly to piano ahead of feverishly rushing forward, song hyper accelerates energy with its thunderstorm guitars, fluctuating bass and harsh modern style backing vocals repeating the phrase ‘this is my anthem!’  A quieter piano driven passage paying homage to Psalm 23 gives way to Perrenot’s breakneck guitar leads.  Lyric snippet:

I won’t back down, I won’t surrender
I stand and fight until the end
I won’t back down, I won’t surrender
My faith is strong, it will not bend
Every time my back’s up against the wall
I come alive to watch you fall
I won’t back down, I won’t surrender

This is my anthem

“Dearest Enemy (Pressure)” preserves the hard rocking fortitude but in a modern metal package.  Outside the modern laced guitar tones, keyboards play an accelerating role and on occasion vocals a spoken word form.  That said the all out exuberance and Palacios’ festive soloing reinforces the endearing mentality.  Chaotic Resemblance is an accurate point of reference.

“What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)” is first of the cover tracks, noting the alternative rock Information Society version from the groups 1988 self-titled debut.  Kudos to Kalamity Kills for taking the electronic drum machine and techno keyboard ingrained original (respectfully not my cup of tea) and turning it into a brazen, flame throwing hard rock powerhouse strategically retaining the songs innate commercial melody.  Yes, there are still keyboards (with light industrial nuances) but they accent rather than distract.  Likewise, give credit to soprano female guest co-lead vocalist Kiarelly Castillo.  My feeling is that Information Society had the bones of a very good song, which Kalamity Kills built upon and turned into something special. 

“Dark Secrets” defines as a modern hard rocker.  Song begins to muffled-distortion ahead of plunging forward to unshorn guitars, which give way to the industrial tinged keyboards that brand the leisurely verse sections.  Guitar returns with predominant authority to embolden the heartwarming refrain.  Perrenot’s unmistakable lead guitar covers the instrumental moments.  Lyric snippet:

The monster pleads to take control
Seeking to devour in twilight hours
Tearing at your soul
There is no place to hide
In this world where lonely heart, lust and pain collide
Where the serpent lies

Dark secrets

“The Chemistry Of Meant To Be” indentifies as willful hard rock, slicing from the beginning to metal based guitars interwoven with symphonic keyboards and Rowe’s signature vocals walking a fine line between the raspy and melodic.  One cannot miss the implacable hooks that accordingly diverge.  Interestingly, light backend piano presents with a boogie feel.

“A.L.I.E.N.” renders prodigious volumes of low-end groove.  Funky bass permeates the verse sections as rhythm guitar craftily marauds in and out of the mix and bulky backing vocals the subtly hook woven refrain.  Techno keyboards at the halfway mark give way to torrid lead guitar.  Lyric snippet:

Shine your light in the dark
If you believe
Whoa Oh-oh-oh, a light in every nation
Brighter than a million stars
For all to see

Show me your hands
Are they scarred from giving
Do they see with compassion
Show me your heart
Would I find a place to be loved

Brazen metal cut “Hellfire Honey” begins to distorted vocals ahead of burning its way forward in convulsive fashion - rhythm section throbs to shaking bass - in producing a darker semblance with a borderline Alice Cooper semblance.  Ambitious refrain undulates with agitating authority (in a flattering sense).

A straight on and no-frills hard rock approach yields on “Burn”.  With outlying keyboards playing an accenting role, song speaks of the assailing with its clubbing mid-tempo impetus but also the graceful in light of its occasional ethereal guitars and mid-point passage inclusive to classical guitar.  Perhaps it is the lower register feel to lead vocals, but for some reason “Burn” points to The Brave.

“Sinners Welcome” ups creativity as one of my favorites.   Buzz saw guitars assert a bluesy slide embossed vestige, complementing vocals that take a first person spoken approach and lead guitar aligning with the blues based footsteps.  I applaud the tremulous (and quite catchy) ‘I am wanted- sinners welcome!’ refrain to see Rowe add a smoldering edge to his delivery.  Lyric snippet:

I got hypocrites telling me I’m too far gone
Ain’t nothing but trouble, no good for anyone
Been a self sabotaging brother, trucker for sure
Then one day on the way I was offered the cure

I was thirsty you gave me drink
Paid no mind to what haters think
Smack talking church folk causing a stink
Losing their minds when ya show me

Cover of The Call’s “I Still Believe” (off Reconciled from 1986) also ranks among albums finer moments.  It represents a metal tinged rendering as opposed to the alternative laced original, guitars grit with full force (noting the ever present emotion imbuing the refrain), but still upholds quiescent moments (verse section exude smoothly flowing bass).  The periodic backend modern style scream vocals build upon songs demonstrative edge.

“Amen” closes album as a calm and collected worshipful ballad essential to piano, keyboards and Rowe’s confident vocal tincturing.  Lyric snippet:

I am thankful for these days
And for the love that lights my way
I try so hard to make it on my own
Now Your voice reminds me I am not alone

Kalamity Kills impresses as a very fine at times melodic hard rock and others modern metal album.  Artist’s songwriting plays no small role in this regard, as does the pair of equally adept cover tracks.  The host of guest musicians and Perrenot’s versatility as a multi-instrumentalist and producer should not be discounted and help provide for the ‘band identity’ in question.  Overall, quality is such that a follow up release from Kalamity Kills is highly anticipated.

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “Anthem” (4:02), “Dearest Enemy (Pressure)” (3:14), “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) (4:09), “Dark Secrets” (4:10), “The Chemistry Of Meant To Be” (3:24), “A.L.I.E.N.” (3:42), “Hellfire Honey” (2:58), “Burn” (3:48), “Sinners Welcome” (4:12), “I Still Believe” (4:52), “Amen” (3:38)

Musicians
Jamie Rowe - Lead Vocals & guitar
Luke Easter - Backing Vocals
Kiarelly Castillo - Lead Vocals
Julie Lauren Bullock - Lead Vocals
Jamey Perrenot - Guitars, Bass & Synthesizers
Ace Von Johnson - Guitars
Tony Palacios - Lead Guitar
Ray Luzier - Drums
Greg Upchurch - Drums