Hardcore Idols Swan Song (From Companionship To Competition - Kill Your Idols)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	From Companionship To Competition - Kill Your Idols
Date:	02/04/08 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ferocious vocal tone, fine guitar work, an excellently executed album.

Disadvantages: This was Kill Your Idols final album, the band is now no more.

When this album was released back in early 2005, Kill Your Idols had recently released a split 7" with the legendary 7 Seconds, and after a 2 year hiatus following on from the release of the 'No Gimmicks Needed' album in 2001 the band here came back with the long awaited follow up album 'From Companionship To Competition'. This album sees the band showing no signs of slowing down as they carry on where they left off with heavy guitars, pelting drum beats, and awesome hardcore vocals. I'd say that this is probably better than their previous album had been and the band here definitely ironed out the few creases that were present. Don't get me wrong - I loved their 'No Gimmicks Needed' album, but I just feel that with this final album of theirs Kill Your Idols produced a much crisper album with more bite, and vocally the band here sounds more perfect than ever. Kill Your Idols announced in late 2006 that they would call it a day in summer 2007 and so it was then that they departed, each member going their separate way. Kill Your Idols are a sorely missed hardcore band, always the music was incredible and when it was announced that the band would take their bow I personally was quite distraught at the news.

The music of Kill Your Idols really was a cut above the rest in the genre - there are so many Hardcore bands that sound identical but this band always maintained its individuality through a truly unmistakable sound and finely honed lyrical excellence. The guitar riffs are simple but truly effective and they really help to create a raw feeling of excitement in the songs. I've always admired the bands drum beats and this album does nothing to rock my faith in them - again the band here produced some of the finest drum beats I have ever heard and it is this that helps to establish Kill Your Idols fast, truly inspiring display of Hardcore.

Vocally Kill Your Idols music was always absolutely spot on. I can find no fault with this bands vocal performance on this album whatsoever. Always the lyrics are shouted out with great ferocity and an extremely precise nature, planned to perfection is this incredible display of attacking hardcore. Never does Kill Your Idols here hold anything back in the slightest, always the music is incredibly forthcoming with a frantic pace and great intensity. Vocally excellent and musically sound, Kill Your Idols drive through this album with a forceful nature and expertise that allowed the band to stand both head and shoulders above the competition.

Kill Your Idols were in my opinion always one of the finest Hardcore bands and will always be remembered by myself as one of the leading names of the American hardcore punk scene. Never did this band ever go down the route of producing a dull, Post-Hardcore affair; something that is often greatly apparent in the current fashion obsessed scene that we see before us today. With this album Kill Your Idols showed us that they had improved on what was already an amazing formula and that they had really progressed as a band and as musicians. I didn't think they could have topped the 'No Gimmicks Needed' album, they did though somehow and here managed to produce an album that is excellent in every way. Although Kill Your Idols broke up in the summer of 2007, long will this album be remembered; the final album this band ever released truly was an exceptional display of hardcore punk.


Label: Side One Dummy
Release Date: 31st January 2005

Originally posted by me on my website Alt-UK.com
Source: http://www.alt-uk.com/modules.php?name=Reviews

Summary: A fantastic final album from New York's hardcore giants Kill Your Idols.