Baby Killer: S/T cassette

Baby Killer: S/T cassette (General Speech) This self-titled tape is the first release from New York’s Baby Killer, a new band featuring some familiar faces who know their way around writing and recording a hardcore record. That this band is comprised of scene veterans is clear from the moment you hit play, as the performance is mega-tight, the songwriting is lean and powerful, and the recording is dialed to perfection. Style-wise, Baby Killer sits at the intersection of UK82-style punk and 80s-style US hardcore. “Baby Killer” (from the cassette Baby Killer by the band Baby Killer) is a dead ringer for Abrasive Wheels, while “Deadly Mistake” channels Negative Approach’s tough, oi!-ish grooves, and the closing “Let’s Gape” adapts the dramatic change-ups of a song like “Ready to Fight.” Vocalist Matty barks the lyrics in a drill sergeant style that bears a passing resemblance to Choke; it sounds powerful and I love how clearly enunciated the lyrics are. While Baby Killer knows exactly what they’re doing, a few unexpected moments inject some personality into the proceedings, like the kind of silly lyrics to “Baby Killer” (the song is not about someone who kills babies, but a baby who kills) and the very unexpected cover of Love’s “7 and 7 Is.” This would have been a great 7” EP, but according to General Speech’s description, the band needed this out quickly, so tape it is. The format is immaterial, though… they could have distributed this recording on Edison cylinder and it would still rip.