This is the debut album from Belgian heavy rock band Killjoy.
Killjoy have an engaging sound that embraces a few different influences and fuses them into a very engaging form of modern rock. Across 34 minutes, elements of electronica, screamo, progressive rock, punk, and post-metal are all swallowed up and spat out in the form of seven charismatic tracks that hit the spot.
For a rough idea of where the music is coming from, I’d throw out a mix of band names such as Årabrot, Death Goals, Meryl Streek, Mother Vulture, and Russian Circles as a decent starting point. I’ll also throw in touches of bands such as Black Orchid Empire, The Callous Daoboys, Doodseskader, The Sultans of Ping, and The Wildhearts, as further examples of bands that came to mind here and there. There are some diverse elements at play across Dream and Violence.
It’s controlled chaos, as Dream and Violence uses its influences as components parts in a war against banality. It feels raw and untamed, despite benefiting from controlling hands that know what they’re doing with the material. The vocals in particular are full of personality and character. Singing, shouting, and more, they provide a coating of feeling-rich colour to music that already boasts its fair share of these attributes.
Dream and Violence is a multifaceted experience, one that’s charged with energy. The songs are dynamic and energetic, full of emotive delivery and percussive depth. Even when Killjoy focus on the slower, more atmospheric aspects of their songs, there is still an undeniable energy to their music that’s electric.
For those looking for something a little different, Dream and Violence is an album for connoisseurs of modern rock music to explore and get to grips with. Make sure you check this out.
Wonderbox Metal 