Metal Band of the Week:
Eyes Set to Kill
October 3, 2009 by Kyle BradyTags: Band, Eyes Set to Kill, Metal, Music, Review
As required by the FTC, a Full Disclosure is available - this piece adheres to the Code of Ethics
Lead by a female vocalist, and with another female in the band playing bass, the first instinct of many critics is to view Eyes Set to Kill as a female metal novelty band, much like Kittie or, sadly, In This Moment, rather than judge them on the basis of their music. With a thorough listening, however, the band’s intent can clearly be identified as greater than albums-sales-via-gender-association.
Although formed in 2004, Eyes Set to Kill’s first full-length studio album didn’t appear until 2008 - “Reach”. While this album, and it’s more recent successor, lays definitively within the realms of metalcore, the band’s specific flavor includes a few interesting twists that separate them from the rest of the genre. Slower tempos, less emphasis on breakdowns, and a greater interest in melody within both the guitars and vocals begin to help describe their uniqueness, but other differences abound- such as the occasional post-hardcore tinges that appear or the acoustic moments brought in via both piano and guitars. Throughout the album’s 42-minute length, Eyes Set to Kill seem determined to demonstrate their musical range and ability, explicitly using all of the five band members’ talents in varying forms, and the outcome is a solid record that distinctly sets them apart.
With the release of “The World Outside”, just a year and a half after their debut, Eyes Set to Kill reappeared with a musical chip on their shoulder and more to prove to both the world and their genre. Both thematically and musically, the album is significantly darker than “Reach”, and an emphasis seems to have been put on producing a release that was altogether heavier and less uplifting. However, by doing so, they have reached into the realms of bands like As I Lay Dying and Killswitch Engage, and noticeably sacrificed some of their originality for easily recognizable elements of the metalcore genre. Despite these limitations, and what some would call a musical regression, the album placed higher on the Billboard charts than the band had seen previously – guaranteeing their future, in the near term, as a band.
This is not to say that “The World Outside” was a musical failure – songs such as “The World Outside”, “Risen”, “The Hollow”, and “Come Home” show that they still have an edge and individuality that many bands have invariably lost as they chase mainstream success from within the metalcore genre. The upcoming acoustic release from singer/acoustic guitarist Alexia Rodriguez, which is ostensibly reimaginings of previous material, may prove as an appropriate reset for the band, who will hopefully choose to continue to mature after a recognition of their missteps, as has recently been seen with Trivium, rather than proceed down their current path, ala In This Moment or The Human Abstract.
Currently on tour, sponsored by Revolver Magazine, within the United States, Eyes Set to Kill can be found on MySpace; “The World Outside” can be found on Amazon [CD] [MP3], along with their debut, “Reach” [CD] [MP3].
Kyle can be found on Twitter and MySpace, or reached via email.
