Beast Killer, Interview and Album Review

Volume #30: Beast Killer, Interview and Album Review

8/19/22

Ear Hammer Records

Not too long ago I was fortunate enough to steal a few minutes from Cleveland Rock band Beast Killer. I met them at the Grog Shop and we sat down so I could introduce them to all of you. Grabbing a spot under a tree on the corner of Coventry and Euclid Heights Blvd I began my inquisition. Beast Killer is comprised of just two guys: Chris and Kris. Chris Wright handles guitar and vocals, while Kris Monroe doles out the percussion. This duo has played together for “about a decade in a couple different bands.” The pandemic put those acts on hiatus, like so many others. Towards the end of that time, Chris and Kris got together and “decided to jam, and the jam turned into like three songs. Two months later we’re playing our first live show.” Since then Beast Killer has played around a dozen gigs in Northeast Ohio. In general they say the crowd response had been “pretty good.” Despite this project, and the two piece format being new to them, they are pleased with their reception and seem very optimistic going forward. 

Kris Monroe, Z.M. Delgado, Chris Wright

Next I asked about the name “Beast Killer.” Yes, it sounds bad ass, but is there a deeper meaning behind it? Chris explained, though it did begin as just “a cool name… the more it started to progress… [with the] self titled track “Beast Killer, Beast Killer” it started to become more about overcoming that beast, whatever it is, that’s stopping you from becoming whatever you want to be.” Chris describes their sound as “kind of an amalgam of everything we both listen to. Mostly Punk music, but there’s a lot of heavy elements in there. There’s Deftones, there’s Refused, there’s Carp.” Kris added Motorhead to the list to which Chris and I both hardily agreed. Lemmy’s influence on this act is undeniable, from the hard driving cadence to the coarse grating vocal style. Furthering their homage, they even had a promotion for their album release: say Motorhead at the door and you get in for just $5. Kris put it simply: “You gotta pay tribute to the king.” Amen, Brother. 

Beast Killer

We then moved on to the song writing process. Beast Killer follows a pretty common formula when writing their music. Like most bands they start with a jam built around the guitar and drums and add lyrics later. Lyrical duties are handled by Chris. Kris then explained “one of the things I like about having a band that has the style of ours… It’s very riff driven, it’s very organic, it’s very primitive.” He went on to tell me about how simplified and streamlined the writing process can be with only a two man operation. “You come up with something in a practice and if we’re not completely rip roaring through it and were not happy with it by two practices, fuck it.” They say they went with the two piece lineup “out of necessity really. After I’ve done it, I feel like I don’t know if I could ever go back to being in a larger project.” They explained that it is more than just song writing that is simplified, but every aspect of the band. When you talk about all the decisions small and large that a band has to make (Music, art, merch and booking to name a few.) having only one other person to debate with really aids the process. 

Beast Killer

Next I got into their album and it’s recording process. It was recorded by the band at Chris’ place Rubber Lizard Recording Studio. Here they not only track their own material but also many other projects including label mates Fawx. I was interested to learn that Chris recorded both guitar and bass for the album in studio, to add a fuller sound. To capture this live he uses a “line selector splitter that goes to a bass amp. So there is bass… it sounds full when it plays. I just tracked it separately so you get a little more definition.” This choice undoubtedly made things much easier to mix and master after recording was completed. Kris said, “We didn’t want to do anything on that album that wouldn’t sonically pass live. You’re going to get that sound live from us.” 

Chris Wright

Kris Monroe

Just out of curiosity I asked who their favorite local acts are around town. They listed Fawx, and Cheap Easies.  They also mentioned being fans of local punks Church&State.  Then I got down to the most important question of the evening and one that I know all of you at home desperately wanted to know: As professional beast killer’s… Assuming they are of equal mass, which beast would be harder to kill: An eagle with arms or a shark with legs. After much deliberation they came to the conclusion that it would be more difficult to kill the eagle with arms, based on the assumption that the shark would suffocate when leaving the water. While I disagree, I have to take the word of the professionals. 

Beast Killer Cover Art

So let’s dig into this album.  As I said earlier it was recorded at Rubber Lizard. Album art was provided by friend of the band, Andre Burton. The band admits proudly that both the artwork and album title was meant as a direct nod to Motorhead.  (First album: Motorhead by Motorhead with the first song being entitled “Motorhead.” The art also bears a similarity to a side view of Motorhead’s iconic logo.) The album opens with the self titled track “Beast Killer,” which truly lives up to its name and sets the bar for the album very high. Starting with crashing cymbals and a ripping riff, the song takes off and for the remainder of the recording, never lets up. Second in line is “The Black Wall” another hard, fast, spleen burster of a song. These first two tracks really kick start the record, but the album takes a turn on track three. “Violent Creatures” has a groove driven sound and a more melodic, cleaner vocal style than its predecessors. That being said, this song rocks and when Chris’ vocals hits its heaviest point in the chorus, it really punctuates it.  

Beast Killer

“Broken Glass” has a great shouting cadence to its verse that I really love, and a driving riff that matches it perfectly. “Egomaniac” has another of those rapid fire guitar lines and driving rhythms. It also has an excellent build up at about the 1:33 mark that is absolutely explosive leading back into the chorus. “Tourniquet” has a slower delivery and a much more Rock N’ Roll sound than the previous entries to the record; it’s chugging meter and raving vocals make it a very nice change of pace. The energy is ramped right back up on “The Devils Party.” Opening with someone asking “What the hell is this?” then with a fiery rhythmic chant, the song quickly develops into what is possibly the most danceable on the album. It also sports a very catchy chorus that begs to be sung along to at high volume. 

Up next is my favorite song on the album “Elitist.” The lyrics, on the surface, seem to depict the troubles many underground bands have in staying together and the constant infighting that occurs as creative differences emerge. However, if you look at “the band” as a metaphor for any other human relationship, it takes on a much deeper meaning. I also love the rocking riff on this one, and I think it has the catchiest chorus on the album. I will admit that I have listened to this track WAY too many times since the release party and I have yet to get tired of it. 

Kris Monroe

“Neurotic Ep1 Se3” is possibly the best song on the record. It just exudes emotion and power. There is some very real demons being exorcised on this track and it shows. Chris’ performance at the songs climax is incredible. As Kris’ drums build and build so does the vocal intensity. Leading towards the crescendo where Chris is absolutely wailing his band’s name, and seemingly, its mantra “Beast Killer! Beast Killer!,” over and over into a devastating finale. The album has one more offering, the absolutely savage “Eye Like Weapons.” This is probably the heaviest song in the collection. It is brutal in its construction and hard hitting in both verse and chorus. Switching between screaming and spoken vocals, the song serves up one final and savage assault on your senses before ending abruptly. 

There you have it, Rustbelt. Meet Beast Killer and their bone crunching self titled album. I have to tell you that this record is good, like, really good. The songs are powerful and the recording is top notch. Now that I have both thoroughly digested it and seen it performed in its entirety live, I feel I am a bit of an authority on the subject. So you can trust me when I say: You want to go see Beast Killer live and you definitely want to buy their album. This band is the perfect blend of Metal, Punk and good old fashioned Rock N’ Roll. Your Metal friends will love it; Your Punk friends will love it; as I, the man who walks between the tribes, love it as well. It’s hard and fast and it kicks ass from front to back, and that’s no bullshit. Check it out, you’ll thank me. 

Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt!

-Z.M. Delgado

Rustbelt Rock Review

Zackolantern.com

8/26/2022

(Beast Killer- Beast Killer: A strong debut from Cleveland’s up and coming Punk/Metal hybrid. No matter your preferred genre, if you love Rock N’ Roll, it’s sure to satisfy. Horns pointed at the heart of a beast! Highly Recommend.)

Beast Killer

https://linktr.ee/beastkillerband

You can catch Beast Killer live at the "Fall Brawl" at Grog Shop on October 7th.  

Be there!