Many bands today lose focus of what their original roots were when they originally formed as a group. Hailing from the state of Illinois, deathcore powerhouses I Killed Everyone do not fit that mold whatsoever. The quintet formed in early 2008 by original founding member and drummer Tom Salazar. With one independent release already under their belts entitled ‘The Last Breath of A Dying World’, I Killed Everyone have recently put out their debut full length album ‘Dead Peasants’. Released via Innerstrength Records, ‘Dead Peasants’ is an album that encompasses one of the essential elements that many deathcore fans crave: heaviness. After four years of occasional lineup changes, I Killed Everyone have found a formula that works rather well for them.
The album starts off with a quite generic (and unnecessary) track entitled “Emperor”. Even though it is a mere thirty seconds in length, it was an incredibly cheesy way to transition into their first real tune, “A Formless Awakening”. ‘Dead Peasants’ could have started off with their second track, but instead started on the wrong foot.
An element that I Killed Everyone introduced in ‘Dead Peasants’ was the scattered use of keys. Normally, this isn’t found in many deathcore releases. I Killed Everyone injected keys into their music at times where I felt it to be a bit too much. On the contrary, I did enjoy the use of keys in one tune. ‘Earth Carcass’ had incorporated them in a very creative way. The final minute showcased how a breakdown can be heavy, sinister, and ultimately having the listener feel a demonic presence seep through their speakers.
The musicality of the band is typical of what you would expect from a deathcore band. I Killed Everyone aren’t pushing the deathcore boundaries much further, but rather trying to keep the whole deathcore scene alive. The guitars showcase a plethora of riffs that have been in the making for quite some time. Occasional solos are found in the songs. They aren’t very technical, but they help keep the songs sounding a bit more diverse from each other. Bass guitar makes its’ presence known when the time is right. Salazar’s drumming is the glue that keeps I Killed Everyone together. As the founding member of the band, it is evident that his drumming is loaded with emotion. Whether it is a blast beat or breakdown pattern, the drums add a refreshing interpretation of the respective genre. My least favorite part about ‘Dead Peasants’ was the inconsistency of the vocals. It was a total hit or miss. There are times during the album where the vocals sound incredibly strained and forced, yet there are other times where they sound up to par. It was frustrating and a bit disappointing to say the least.
I am unsure as to the reasoning of titling the debut album ‘Dead Peasants’ (which literally translates into something along the lines of “a dead person of low social status”). The album artwork doesn’t really help me get a feel of how they are connected. Nevertheless, the album cover is pretty neat.
Songs that I really enjoyed listening to were “And Kingdoms Will Fall”, “The Art Of Flesh”, and “Earth Carcass”. One song that stood out to me the most was “Dominion”. The penultimate tune was a breath of fresh air to the listener. Though it is not the most technical of instrumental songs, it freshens the mood and sways the attention from the skull crushing music that precedes it. ‘Dead Peasants’ ends with an “in your face” kind of aria called “Re-Defiled” that is sure to receive massive praise from many deathcore enthusiasts.
‘Dead Peasants’ clocks in at just under thirty nine minutes which is a pretty decent length for a twelve track full length. I Killed Everyone created an album that will please a lot of deathcore fans. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to be targeting much of a wider audience. With much deliberation, ‘Dead Peasants’ earns a 7/10. If you are a fan of Carnifex, Whitechapel, and/or Rose Funeral, then this album is worth your time checking out.
‘Dead Peasants’ was released on June 19th, 2012 via Innerstrength Records.
You can purchase the album through your preferred online retailer or pick up a physical copy of the album HERE.
