Following a buzz-worthy 7” and string of shows around Pacific Northwest alongside the likes of The Spits, White Lung,OFF!, and High on Fire, Seattle's Deadkill have released their 14-song debut album No, Never! The first thing that jumps out is how clean-sounding this is. The production is over-the-top slick, which is not surprising considering the album was recorded by Matt Bayles, who is known for his work with bands like Mastodon and Russian Circles. And on top of that these guys are really skilled musicians. Unfortunately both these things actually work against them because they are playing a style of music that’s transmitted best via an air hasty intemperance and sloppiness. Plus there’s way too much regular old rock ‘n’ roll infused into it to appease trad-core and/or crust-craving appetites. You’d be forgiven if the guitar wankery in the opening track “Orpheus” has you reaching for the fast forward button.
No, Never! is not without a handful of pretty raging tracks though. If this was stripped down to just the best songs it would make a decent EP. “Kentucky Fried” has some goofy lyrics and sing-a-long parts that are smile-worthy. Meanwhile “Kill It Dead” is just plain good fist-in-the-air/race-to-the-finish hardcore that’s a stitch over a minute long. And “Messed Up” and “Guns” are worthy keepers as well, due especially to the lead singer Bryan Krieger’s hoarse contribution.
It must be stressed how awesome Krieger’s vocals are. In fact, in terms of hardcore, it’s his presence that makes it really difficult to be totally dismissive of the band as a whole. He’s got a voice and a delivery that recalls some of the genre’s most historically revered throats – Mike Muir, John Weiffenbach, and Ian McKaye to name a few. Krieger attacks the microphone in a way that really pushes the band’s recorded sound into a somewhat polarizing position. His commanding, slightly blown vocals provide an aura of rugged validity, even while existing in stark contrast to the band’s urbane instrumentation.
Ultimately though, it’s hard to get past the overwhelming feeling that No, Never! sounds like a bunch of accomplished musicians who got together to make a hardcore record. If you’re 15 years old and your only exposure to fast punk is the heavier bands on Fat Wreck, you’ll probably think this is totally awesome. But knowing that there’s rawer, more authentic hardcore out there will make it difficult for those with seasoned pallets to enjoy something this polished.
