Kittie | I’ve Failed You
by Cynthia Jo
Staff Writer —
Can anyone remember the band Kittie past 1999s Spit and 2001s Oracle? If the answer is no, shockingly they’re still around proving that angry riot girl nu-metal is not worth production time. Kittie’s sixth studio album, I’ve Failed You makes its way in line with the other three forgettable albums in their discography.
The first self-titled track “I’ve Failed You” raises the question of where is the raw production and sophistication because it is just a tease — it is heavy, but a misrepresentation of the overall package because the overall package dances lightly around over production. Nevertheless, as the album plays it becomes a nostalgic old-school feel complicated with the unnecessary attempt of power with no variety.
Morgan Lander’s viciously scintillating grind-core vocals are, to say the least, annoying. There’s a point in “Empires Pt.1” or “Never Come Home” where Lander sounds a bit like Cyndi Lauper and the thoughts of how desperately unique are these Canadian girls trying to be with the mix and match of rough and soft vocals. Their entitlement of being the princesses that can actually sing or “scream” in metal have become disdained.
Tracks like “What Have I Done?” are reminiscent a lot of what the original line up sounded like but that is quickly killed once “Come Undone” and “Ugly” roll around. If any hope in this album is found it is probably in “We are the Lamb” which shows the kind of effort Kittie can be acknowledged for with a different tempo and the satisfying traditional thrash metal feel to it. If there were more of that, perhaps this review would be more like Kittie kicks ass rather than sucks ass, but that is just perhaps.
Mercedes Lander, Morgan Lander, Tara McLeod, and Ivy Jenkins ironically fail at this attempt in the name of heavy metal. They should change their name back to “Kitteh” again but that might just disappoint Lita Ford even more. I’ve Failed You has no essential tracks, just forgettable ones.
Band:
Mercedes Lander
Morgan Lander
Tara McLeod
Ivy Jenkins
Track Listing:
1. I’ve Failed You
2. We Are the Lamb
3. Whisper of Death
4. What Have I Done?
5. Empires (Part 1)
6. Empires (Part 2)
7. Come Undone
8. Already Dead
9. Never Come Home
10. Ugly
11. Time Never Heels
Web site: kittiericks.com
Label: E1 Music
Hardrock Haven Rating: 5/10