Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Whitechapel - Kin (2021)
Imagine the look of shock on the faces of many Whitechapel fans when their ears first encounter this album. I didn't have the same feeling since it's only recently when I started listening to and paying attention to this band. They've had quite an active career for over a decade and a half, and since their debut, they've been known as one of the heaviest, toughest, breakdown-fueled deathcore bands around. Although the band's name and that debut album The Somatic Defilement is based on the infamous legend Jack the Ripper, I still enjoy their early brutal material, just as long as it's balanced out by the recent melodic direction. The Valley definitely puts the latter up in great use, suitable for vocalist Phil Bozeman's lyrics about the tragedies of his childhood. Their deathcore in that album is more melodic, atmospheric, and progressive than any of their earlier material, already hinting at a brand new tone the band would have in the following album...
For their new album Kin, the band still have their usual deathcore, all within the low-tuned guitars and bass, and explosive breakdowns. However, the writing here is simplistic yet dramatically detailing more of Bozeman's feelings of his young struggles. The music is actually radio-friendly rather than made for the deathly underground. Once again, they really bring the tone down and became a much different band from the one that made their debut album. This is different from other bands such as Carnifex and Job for a Cowboy that both also released their deathcore debut album in 2007. The former stuck with their blackened deathcore sound, while the latter switched to prog-death. Kin shows Whitechapel taking on more of a progressive/alternative metal sound for the most part, it's not really bad at all. It's something wonderful to embrace!
The opening song "I Will Find You" already makes their new sound clear by combining the distorted heaviness with beautiful cleanliness. Up next is "Lost Boy" which brings back some of the band's earlier intensity, especially in the drumming. "A Bloodsoaked Symphony" is the closest the band has gone to deathcore in this album. The typical heaviness of that genre can be heard again in the drumming, though in a djenty marching pace. "Anticure" is a perfect emotional lament. It kinda reminds me of some of the slower ballad-like Trivium songs!
"The Ones That Made Us" then showcases a bit of the heavier side of Trivium mixed with All Shall Perish. "History is Silent" is another wholesome power ballad. "To the Wolves" leans into a melodeath-groove combo to remind some of DevilDriver, including a melodic and technical guitar solo.
I must admit, "Orphan" is quite a tear-jerker. Bozeman's vocals and lyrics sound so emotional, though the music is a little too soft with barely any steam and no crushing heaviness at all. "Without You" has nothing going on except serene acoustic guitar. "Without Us" mixes clean atmosphere with stomping djenty deathcore aggression. Don't expect too much viciousness in the title track, with the first half being practically acoustic. However, the second half reprises the melodeath heaviness in the instrumentation.
All in all, we get to hear more about Bozeman's journey to fight the demons of his past. Kin can be a bit bumpy in some places, but the experience is never heavily soiled, unlike a couple ugly mid-2010s albums. Kin is a pleasant surprise, and I hope in the future, Whitechapel can take this new direction to the next level....
Favorites: "I Will Find You", "Anticure", "The Ones That Made Us", "To the Wolves", "Without Us"