Kill the Client Set for Extinction
Relapse
“Life is pain, life is fear, and man is unhappy[,” Kirillov said “]Everthing is now pain and fear. Man loves life now because he loves fear and pain. That’s how it’s been. Life is given in return for pain and fear now, and that’s the whole deception. But man is still not really man. There will come a new man, happy and proud. He who doesn’t care whether he lives or dies – he’ll be the new man. He who conquers pain and fear – will become God. And then the old God will no longer exist. […] God is the pain of the fear of death. He who conquers pain and fear – will become God. Then a new life will dawn; there’ll be a new man; everything will be new… History will be divided into two parts: from gorilla to the destruction of God and from the destruction of God to… […] … to the physical transformation of the earth and man. […] Everyone who wants absolute freedom will have to dare to kill himself. Everyone who dares to kill himself will have discovered the secret of deception. There’s no freedom beyond that; that’s everything – there’s nothing more. He who dares kill himself is God.”
Dostoevsky
Devils
1871
Kill the Client’s post-Escalation of Hostility progress has been a nigh on Buddhist seminar in addition by subtraction. Shedding a second guitarist and their more overt Terrorizer and Brutal Truth influences for something more primal. More instinctual than intellectual, the Texans have hit this state of blissful transcendence since Cleptocracy. At this point I don’t see how the band could even continue as Kill the Client if it were to ever lose one of its component parts.
While Set for Extinction may not sound as crisp as Cleptocracy, there’s no escaping the glowering murk of the guitars or Champ Morgan’s snarling dynamo as he winds up his bandmates to paroxysms of bursting frenetic energy. And James Delgado and Bryan Fajardo are quite simply the tightest rhythm section in grind, mixing fluid bass and concussive drumming.
There’s pretty much no point in talking about any of the 19 individual songs on Set for Extinction because it's a suffocating 30 minute gestalt with each unrelenting blast passage choking out rational thought, leaving only atavistic brain stem impulses to crush and kill. The down tempo moments that stuck out like speed bumps on Escalation of Hostility have been gleaned of their finest moments and sprinkled throughout the album on songs like “Pandemic” as ballast.
I look forward to several years of arguments (with myself, if no one else) about whether Cleptocracy or Set for Extinction is the superior album. I can’t say for sure, but I do know that when “Cull the Herd” crashes the album to a close on such an abrupt note I’m caught breathless and I have to hit play again.
5 comments:
A few weeks ago, I had this in my hand in line at the record store, and now I regret putting it back in the New Arrivals bin where I found it after reading this. Perhaps I'll go back and look for it.
I shall partake in the arguments, for I am in the exact same quandary myself, Cleptocracy v Set for Extinction. Once again Kill the Client have put out another fantastic release, if they can top this release, I might be inclined to see them as the greatest texan grinders, currently held by Insect Warfare.
I went back and got this today. The thing that makes Set for Extinction better than Cleptocracy is the simple fact that it doesn't have that stupid infest cover on it.
If they have a week link in their catalog I would say that title goes to Escalation Of Hostility but even that sucka is smokin. Cleptocracy does have the most upfront crushing drum sound that I kind miss on SFE but overall, this is one fantastic album.
I could hear the guitar work better on this album. I also found there were more memorable riffs and parts than their previous album. Cleptocracy had me zoning out while listening, but this album holds my attention a little better. I'm thinkin I like this album the best, but I've only heard it a few times.
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