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One of the most pleasing aspects about young people getting into rock music today is that they don’t seem to have the same prejudices about different genres that those of us of a certain vintage can sometimes have. The rock/metal scene can often be like the classic Bob’s Country Bunker gif-inspiring clip in ‘The Blues Brothers’ movie – but instead of “We got both kinds…we got country and western!” it’s often “We got both kinds…we got rock and metal!” Young fans will think nothing of mixing acts like Halestorm, Paramore, Shinedown, etc with classic rock acts like Queen, and more modern pop-influenced artists like PVRIS, The 1975, Imagine Dragons, Billie Eilish, etc. One of the common denominators with the latter acts is the use of electronica and as we all know, nothing splits the rock/metal faithful like the use of electronica in modern rock music. Enter South Wales outfit The Autumn Killers with their debut album ‘Darkside’: an album that relies on electronica just as much as it relies on more traditional rock music tropes such as fiery riffage and kick-ass drums.
With heaps of experience in the music industry and decades of playing on the circuit under their belts, you could be forgiven for thinking that The Autumn Killers would be a by-the-numbers blues-rock band. Instead, the trio of Rob Reece (lead vocals, bass guitar, piano), Duncan Richardson (guitars, backing vocals, keyboards), and Graeme Hoy (drums, percussion) have made the bold move to try and bring their sound to a more mainstream audience by giving it a modern electronic twist.
‘One of 5’ for instance, the guys missed a trick by not sending this one to Jacoby Shaddix, because this one would not sound out of place on a new Papa Roach album. The “…Save me…” line is perfect for Shaddix to bellow out in the angst-ridden way that he does so well. Very creative with its use of keyboard arrangements, it is an American radio hit without actually knowing that is. ‘Numbers’ is another example of this. So much going on during the four minutes running time that it will make your head spin; uber-light guitar-picking intro, rasping vocals packed with attitude and feeling, powerful drums that help create some memorable hooks, power-chords here and there, and more of those uber-light guitar-picking tones on the outro. Magic stuff. As is the ultra-catchy (and, whisper it – danceable) ‘Let It Out’ which at times comes across as a heavier, ramped-up version of Peter Gabriel’s ‘Shock The Monkey’. ‘80s-loving movie director Michael Mann is busy writing a sequel to the cooler-than-cool movie ‘Heat’, and ‘Stand Up’ might just be the last piece of the puzzle when he is curating the playlist for the soundtrack. Varied, with loads of twists and turns (including a My Chemical Romance-inspired midsection on 01:45 minutes), it’s cinematic in its execution and stick on a decent pair of cans to appreciate some of the keyboard arrangements in the background.
“Where’s the metal?” you might scream; well how about the industrial guitar tinges of the curious-named ‘Mother of the Monkeys’? Crank this sucker up and drool in delight over the intermittent buzzsaw riffs and machine-gun drumming, had this little beauty been around in the days of the NWOBHM then it would be hailed as a classic. Even with the electronics, metalheads would have loved it back in the day. ‘Steal My Sunlight’ is another noteworthy heavier track. Industrial in places, with an Eastern guitar sound that delights during the solo, it’s another example of how much The Autumn Killers are trying to mix it up and keep it fresh. Throw in the Maiden-Esque guitar melodies on the title track and even the grumpiest of grumps should have a smile on their face.
An album that constantly surprises from a band thinking out of the box. Ultimately, ‘Darkside’ is an album ready-made for the outdoor festival season in America, stick these guys on the same bill as acts such as Shinedown, Sevendust, Halestorm, Papa Roach, and Daughtry, and the crowd will go home with tracks such as ‘Do You Want It’ stuck in their head.
Available now, more information here.
Review – Dave
