ALL HAIL
Just take a quick look through the booklet of KILL CHEERLEADER’s
All Hail, and upon seeing the members, immediately you’ll think, “Wow, these guys really want to be The Ramones”. When you actually listen to the album, it really isn’t Ramones worship, just yet another take on straight-up, high-octane rock, which may be wrongfully labeled punk by those who know nothing of it. Nine of the 12 songs are completely interchangeable; just look at the RAWKING titles like “Deathboy”, “Want Action”, and “Don’t Call Me “Baby”, Baby”. In those nine songs, there’s nothing memorable that sticks out such as a hook, cool melody, or decent riff, but only mediocore playing.
They switch it up with two acoustic tracks, one of them being “Go Away”, which eventually turns electric towards the end. The other one is “No Lullabies” and it’s a full-blown acoustic song with sensitive vocals. It just seems too forced, as if mid-way through creating loud, abrasive rock, they figured “Dude, where’s the acoustic songs, where’s the emotional side that will get us on the radio?” It’s a lot like the formula that the glam bands executed perfectly in the 80s; show how crazy and wild you are with your rock n' roll music to gain some credibility from scenesters, but then throw in some soft numbers to attract the masses. The album ends with “Hurt the People You Love”, a 49 second long song with just piano that sounds like it’s played over a phone. They seem like a fun bunch of dudes, and are probably better live, but I say, proceed with caution.
