Kill To Gain
Live at Cockpit on Saturday, 7th March 2009
We managed to make our way into the venue just in time for one song and a "Thank you and Goodnight" routine from metallers Hostile Rising. As difficult as it is to draw conclusion from one song, their metal-core-ish bluster is pleasing to the ears nonetheless.
Nil Carborundum take to the stage backed by atmospheric synths and a pre recorded drum tracks. A solitary pair comprising of a bassist and guitarist for the opening song or two, the action steps up a notch with the introduction of a second vocalist for the remainder of the set, a brutal metallic stomp complimented perfectly by blood curdling screams and powerful blastbeats. Given the muddy sound and relative unfamiliarity between band and audience (save for a few hardcore devotees at the front), the band come across superbly, and an epic closing song goes a long way to ensuring that the crowd remember them when they leave, a solid set from a growing, interesting band.
The same cannot be said for Kill To Gain, whose sound is so mix and match as to ruin any flow that their set may have had. From System of a Down esque vocals to Incubus style funk, through ballads that wouldn't be out of place on a Staind record, it isn't that the band are bad, far from it, it just means any momentum they build during a song is instantly killed by a drastic change in musical style, making for a patchy, frustrating listen.
