KING HITTER - King Hitter
May 4, 2015, 9 years ago
(Plastic Head Music)
Corrosion Of Conformity’s 1991 Blind album was one of the most revered releases of that decade. The record still holds up to this day, and one of the most prominent reasons for its lasting power is due to then-vocalist Karl Agell. King Hitter’s self-titled debut EP is Agell’s first metal release since Blind. However, he wasn’t just sitting idly by after his COC departure; he’s been fronting stoner rock outfit Leadfoot ever since. Agell absolutely nails it on the album’s five tracks. His raspy croon cuts through with proficient urgency while he injects the right amount of melody at a moment’s notice.
CD-opener and eponymous track is edgy and explosive from the get-go. Naturally, there will be some COC comparisons, but King Hitter isn’t trying to sound like Blind 2.0. “Drone Again” has a certain COC flair with a stoner rock familiarity, decorated with driving, hard-edged riffs, as Agell croons and saunters his way through the track. The chorus to “Feel No Pain” will incite some fist-pumping, air guitar moments for sure. The humorously-titled “Suicide (is the Retirement Plan)” is decorated with menacing riffs with a modern Foo Fighters flair and some tasty, harmonized Thin Lizzy leads. CD-closer “The End” possesses a doomy, Sabbathian swagger. And as Agell repetitively bellows, “This is the end,” it proves to be a great ending to the album. Message to King Hitter: Please hurry up and deliver a proper full-length album!
