Rising up out of the ashes of their previous bands like Howie Long in Firestorm, :::Killcode::: leaps onto the fiery New York rock scene. :::Killcode::: is a band that consists of members of previous well known acts like Noxious, Slunt, and Dirty Rig. They played with national acts like Motorhead and KISS. But who cares about the past right?

These guys have combined their eclectic tastes and brought some of the freshest sounding, hard edge rock I have heard in a long time. I wish this kind of music was on Top 40 radio stations. I would settle for college rock radio, if I had to. The new rock bands that are influencing a generation are Hinder and Nickelback. That is a scary thought! :::Killcode::: needs to be influencing a generation due to their ability to effortlessly combine many styles and sounds.

We were handed :::Killcode's::: debut EP entitled To Die For. The EP is short, but five songs are all I need to declare these guys essential listening for any rock fan. Each song has a heavy riff that is reminiscent of Pantera or Hatebreed, but it isn't as angry or harsh as their work. Take for example, Broken Heel. The riff is a heavy skip that sounds like the orc's marching toward Helms Deep. But the chorus is so melodic that you forget the orcs are marching to eat your flesh. The guitar solo work is similarly great too. The solo is perfectly placed and accentuates the song, adding that little bit to make this song memorable.

Lita has a different feel than Broken Heel. It isn't like Pantera or those heavy riff bands, this song is more melodic. It focuses more on harmonies and great vocals. There are some hot sounding women saying "I've got my legs in the air." Whether she did or not, I was still hard listening to her.

Truce is my favorite song on the EP because it sounds like it is teetering on precipice of chaos. I feel like all hell is about to break loose by :::Killcode::: always brings me back from the edge. The opening southern sludge solo gives way to a slow, pounding bass line that helps inch you closer and closer to that ledge. There is a moment where :::Killcode::: summons the BOOM! BOOM! + vocal effect from Saliva, but that is about the only similarity between the two bands. I enjoy the vocal on this song too. Tom is able to use his great rock range.

6 am Again is another solid effort from the band and definitely has rock radio single potential. It is the one of the first songs composed by the band and you can't tell. It sounds like a veteran composition from a band that been playing together for years. The harmonies on the chorus are sound rehearsed and tight.

To Die For is my favorite new EP. I use it to feel like a bad ass as I strut around the Wilmington streets. The band is currently in the studio recording a full length album due out sometime next year. I highly suggest you log onto the band's MySpace and buy To Die For to tide you over until the new album. It makes the perfect last minute stocking stuffer for grandmom.

:::Killcode::: is:

Tom - Lead vocals
Chas - Guitars/backing vocals
Pat - Guitars
Erric - Bass/Backing vocals
Rob - Drums




Photo Courtesy of Damien Maurer and :::Killcode:::.