Kill Devil Hills, The - Man, You Should Explode (Album)
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The Kill Devil Hills have been kicking around the shores of Western Australia since 2003 and in that time they’ve toured the country extensively to rave reviews, won a bunch of music industry awards, and have just released their third long player Man, You Should Explode.
Having loved the singles Cockfighter and Siam, I was very excited to get my hands on this record and it did not disappoint. Their sound is interesting. It ranges from classic Aussie pub rock to country to blues and sometimes they even sound a little bit punk. Whatever the genre, these boys sure know how to belt out a thrashing rock tune, as well nailing a few softer ballads. This has led to a nice mix of highs and lows on Man, You Should Explode.
Grinding, dirty, sweaty rock tracks like It’s Easy When You Don’t Know How are mixed in with heart-wrenching ballads of loss and vengeance such as Words From Batman To Robin.
My favourite track on this record is Siam. Its very old school rock sounding, but fantastic for drunken dancing. An honourable mention also goes to When The Wolf Comes. A melodious bluesy track, that starts off with quiet plucked guitars, building up to a heavy chorus with singer Brendon Humphries aching voice crying "love is stronger than bones". They remind me a lot of The Drones with a touch of Johnny Cash.
The last track on the record Lucy On All Fours is very country-esque and contains my personal favourite lyric. "Today I’m with Lucy-on-all-fours, she kiss me like a saint, then she fucks me like a whore". I don’t particularly enjoy pub rock when I’m not listening to it played live at the pub, but Man, You Should Explode is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.
This is music that was made to be enjoyed loud and live, however the record is still good when blasting from your home stereo as you tend to the domestic duties. The Kill Devil Hills are the embodiment of the hardworking Australian spirit, and this is conveyed through their music and their own hectic touring schedule.
The boys will be rioting around the nation throughout September and October, catch them if you can for what is sure to be a blistering live performance.
