Female fronted metal bands, regardless of how popular in the scene today, still are minorities in a male dominated sphere. But it doesn’t matter what goes where, because Butcher Babies really don’t give a shit (no really, they don’t) as long as you have heard of them.
The five piece act, fronted by vocalists Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd, has a very young career but already boasts a notorious reputation for their punk-esque attitude and blitzing energy on stage, and essentially, not being a favored band amongst the ‘honorable’ elitists of the scene. ‘Lilith’ is just another statement made by the band for everybody, and it is the boldest one made.
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Butcher Babies has had quite a journey from its nipple-taped ‘Goliath’ era to today, and they don’t shun out massive sound changes either. Guitarist Henry Flury sounds juicier than ever and has showed off the most of his rhythmic capability throughout all of the 11 tracks in the record. Together alongside Jason Klein (bass) and Chase Brickenden (drums), entire sections of the albums feel like headbang inducing spells, every next song is a hook till your neck gives up. (Gets butchered maybe?)
‘Korova’ is one such example off the album, reeking of face scrunching grooves played flawlessly. ‘Oceana’ is another where grooves really don’t matter and it straight away puts you into autopilot wind milling, while ‘#iwokeuplikethis’ (as mentioned above, the shits aren’t really given) ruthlessly delivers a Slayer approved skank beat. The vocals of the album however stick to its roots in a few tracks and divert at the same time. The title track of the album shows off how dynamic Carla and Heidi are alongside each other, and other songs distinctly maintain growls from each vocalist which is shown in ‘Burn the Straw Man’, with Heidi on the mic spitting absolutely beastly vocals. ‘Underground and Overrated’ is the last track off the record and I don’t think anybody would be physically capable of restraining themselves from moving in any manner whatsoever.
The album in its entirety really is a mixed experience alongside its lyrics, with no definitive on how the listener will respond, but demands the headbanger from within to come out, and probably have two painkillers the morning after. It’s also very cheesy no doubt (looking at the songs ‘Headspin and Huntsman’) , but regardless of any parmesan or mozzarella that exists on this brutal record, it does not easily forgive.
‘Lilith’ is a brutally fast paced album by a band that is just as fast paced and brutal in delivering it. It bursts of extreme metal, groove, thrash and punk rock at the same time and blends all the genres well without any hesitation. Lilith is out via Century Media, October 27th!