It’s Monday and Mondays suck, so let’s grind it out with Kill the Client’s Cleptocracy.
Now, maybe there will be a few people that simply read the title and go straight for the comments section, promoting their expertise on politics. This is actually meant to promote kick ass, blasting, destructive music. But if the title and/or lyrics* disturb, disrupt or cause anger, good. That’s what this music is about. You’re supposed to get pissed.
But it’s election season. You’re probably already pissed. Good.
If you were following Kill the Client’s releases up to this point, you’d notice that the recording quality shifted from Escalation of Hostility, as the band, well, escalated its hostility and delivered an even more crushing album. Cleptocracy feels like its jam packed with every vicious thought ever conceived by mankind and blasted at a thousand-miles-per-hour over twenty-two-minutes. It’s not uncommon to find a grindcore album that never relents, and Kill the Client never once give quarter on this album.
As is the general approach of grindcore, Kill the Client see no point in wasting precious time. “Divide and Conquer” gets right down to business, throwing the listener into a stranglehold over a barrage of sonic abuse and shrill, violent screams. Bryan Fajardo (Noisear, Gridlink) takes over on drums and second guitarist Dorian Rainwater (Noisear, Phobia) is added. Chris Richardson (guitar), Morgan (vocals) and James Delgado (bass) return. And the musicianship feels stepped up. Escalation of Hostility was a vicious album, but this grinds the teeth into fine points.
It’s the distortion on this album that makes it feel massive. It adds a layer of abrasiveness to the already raw production. What’s more, the hardcore/punk parts still really stand out. “False Flag Attack” has an intro that feels like it was ripped straight out of the 80s before things get really heavy. “Red State Redneck” and “Terminal Nation” also have similar approaches, keeping things stripped down and pummeling.
Cleptocracy also isn’t without death metal influence. “99 Percent Turnover” is a grinding blasterpiece that pulls plenty of Repulsion love and manages to keep things insanely heavy. “Christian Pipebomb” and “Test Tube Nation” also smash through the speakers with similar unrelenting force. It’s the difference between breaking a window with a bat and a hammer; it’s sheer savage aggression.
Kill the Client has been one of those bands that I’ve been wishing would come back for a while. They did briefly in 2012 for a split with Feastem and played Maryland Deathfest 2014 but haven’t been working on any new material to my knowledge. For now, get grinding and get pissed with Cleptocracy.
*I’m aware the lyrics aren’t available on the internet for this or Set for Extinction. If they come with the CD or LP versions, I do not know, so listen closely.
You can find me here.
