Kill or be Killed is the second album from Self proclaimed Killer Surf and Spaghetti Western Instrumentalists Day of the Dead and it demonstrates why they are so well loved in the Perth local music scene. Some have claimed in the past, that songs from Day of the Dead have suffered from sounding as if there was something missing. Well, with the help of Adam Spark from Birds of Tokyo during production, they’ve managed to suitably stick it to their critics. This album has a full, mature sound whilst still sounding authentic enough to transport you to one of their concerts.
Head between the speakers with eyes closed is truly the best way to appreciate this album. The music will help even the sternest of imaginations take flight. When one is running down the streets away from hordes of screaming zombies are they honestly expected to come up with their own soundtrack in the background? Hell no!! Wholly instrumental, it’s music for a Zombie Horror, a Sunday Arvo surf special or an old western.
The problem with most instrumental bands is the difficulty they have in keeping a listener’s attention for more than a few songs. Day of the Dead suffer from no such thing Ben Frichot’s melodic guitar playing is unnaturally intuitive, filling and expanding the songs at all the right places better than any screaming vocalist could. It’s not hard to see why Frichot is a WAMI Guitar player of the year. Luke Fragomeni’s drums and Brendan Giambazi’s double bass provide the heart and soul, the thunder in the sky and the devil’s eye. There’s no doubt these three are well-suited.
Opening the album is Thunderball. Setting the scene for this crazy mexican shoot-out fiesta of music, it feels as if you’ve been hit by a thunderball because it’s this point when you realise that your album collection was craving music like this. Phantom follows, with an incredibly cool crescendo at the 45th second and the minute and 35 mark so when you think the songs calmed down…off it goes again!!
Lost City, Gypsy Veil and the title track Kill or be Killed have a more apocalyptic vibe and it’s these songs that will make or break a fan. Frichot’s tremelo bar and vibrato use dares you not to imagine a storyline unfolding in your head. A zombie chase, an alien invasion, hiding from the feds. Gypsy Veil also has the best introduction by far. The violin only adds to the depth of this song and is the perfect precursor to one of the strongest songs on the album.
The most contemporary song award goes to Swamp Siren which has you converted into a finger clicking, head shaking moron as you’re walking down the street with an Ipod in your ears. The beats by Fragomeni in this song elevate your heart rate more than any walk could do! While The Dead Ride Out is very surf chic the true gem of this album is Return to Galaxy Island. Unfortunately, it’s also the last song on the album and has Frichot varying his playing style ever so slightly. Maybe it’s the Hendrix-style licks or the really cool song name but it’s a teaser of greater things to come. And nothing can be said against a harmony of xylophone and guitar for that super eerie feeling!
Throughout Kill or be Killed the songs get better and better which leaves you feeling pretty excited about what these boys are going to do next. Whilst their music stays within the genre, they pleasantly stretch and expand it so that the sound can truly only be described as Day of the Dead-esque. The only cause for concern is that this band won’t reach the heights it should, due to their being purely instrumental but if they keep churning out albums like this, then they quite possibly could be the first instrumental mainstream contender.
