KILLING TECHNOLOGY

In the 1970s Québec produced a number of very high quality prog bands, mostly of a symphonic orientation. Now begins Québec's major contributions to the metal and Post Rock scenes--this one starting the "thrash metal" movement.

- Killing Side : 1. "Killing Technology (7:33) clear and concise punk sound (like the CLASH--especially the lead vocals--sung in English!). So that's what "thrash" comes from! (13.5/15)

2. "Overreaction (4:45) more punk sound coming from the drums and flailing guitars. The difference between this music and 1970s punk rock is the more serious skills and embellishments of the instrumentalists. (8.875/10)

3. "Tornado (6:02) take Blue Öyster Cult and Thin Lizzy and give them some King Crimson lessons and this might be what you get. 8/8 time with riffing guitar and screaming PHIL LYNOTT-like voice singing over the top in a CLASH/BEASTIE BOYS kind of way. And there's even some time signature switches in the second half! Nice (8.875/10)

4. "Too Scared to Scream" (4:14) sounds like a punk version of a THIN LIZZY song! When multiple voices are used it gives it a BEASTIE BOYS feel (plus the lyrics have that BB feel and sound to them). And since Denis Bélanger is not screaming (as he has on the previous songs), one can surmise that he is very scared. (8.75/10)

- Ravenous Side : 5. "Forgotten in Space" (6:10) a bit of Metallica's chugging pace and guitar riffing over which Denis Bélanger is screaming. After 90 seconds there is a shift in time signature for what could be considered a 15-second chorus. Again, I am so reminded of THE CLASH's singing style and tone in this second verse. The "chorus" time shift recurs and is extended a bit before the musicians seem to wander off into a new motif. Interesting and different song from the previous ones. Buck Dharma Roeser-like guitar solo in the fifth minute before another disciplined Crimsonian exercise over which Denis shifts his own singing style--several times--to fit into the mix. The band seems so relaxed--so confident--as if they've been playing this very complicated song forever! Pretty impressive! (9.25/10)

6. "Ravenous Medicine" (4:23) a longer than usual intro before the band puts it into drive and heads out into morning traffic. It's rather Blue Öyster Cultian. Denis sounds like he's singing while standing up in the car's sunroof! The guitars, bass, and drums are much more shifty and fluid throughout this one--moving in and out of different motifs and different time signatures with amazing ease. Denis' vocal is once again reminiscent of classic Joe Strummer at his angry-most impassioned. (9/10)

7. "Order of the Blackguards" (4:28) some complex guitar and bass play over straight time drumming. Denis singing starts out more relaxed but then he amps up as he gets behind the words' meaning. The guitar-bass riffing turns cyclical in the second half of the second minute and continues through a 45-second instrumental section--in which the drums finally leave the straight-time punk pocket. When Denis returns it is to scream some single word over a few times, but then we return to the original motif for a THIN LIZZY finish as Denis repeats "The Blackguards control" over and over. (8.875/10)

8. "This Is Not an Exercise" (6:18) one churning theme for the first minute while Denis warms up with an heraldic chant, but then we switch into a different more AC/DC-like motif in which Denis screams his lyrics in his BEASTIE BOYS style. The band slows down for a very weird contemplative YES-like patch at 4:30, but then ramps back up at 5:00--this time a little more slowly paced (sounding more like METALLICA) while Denis CLASH-scream-talks his message. Some very interesting and totally unexpected events in that song! (8.875/10)

9. "Cockroaches" (3:40) frenzy and frenetic music and vocal (Denis' vocal performance here actually reminds me quite a bit of LES NEGRESSES VERTES lead singer, Noël "Helno" Rota). The music again takes some very interesting turns and directions--and displays more decent AC/DC-style guitar soloing. (8.875/10)

Total Time: 47:34

For some reason, somehow, I find this music much more accessible than the full-on Tech, Doom, and Death Metal that are yet to come. I don't know if it's the clarity and distinctiveness preserved for each instrument's sound (as opposed to the "walls of crushing sound" emanating from future prog metal artists) or the punk-simplicity of some of the song foundations (especially from the drums) but I like this! And I definitely noticed a progression from the more simplistic punk sounds and constructs of the first three songs to a gradually increasing sophistication (and ease) with complex, shifting song structures.

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of progressive rock music--taking a Crimsonian approach to the still-evolving realm of punk rock. Definitely an excellent addition to any prog metal lover's music collection.