THE KILLS - GOD GAMES
After seven years The American-British Duo The Kills have released their sixth album God Games. They definitely aren’t offering us any answers about the great spiritual mysteries we have in life, and it doesn’t sound like they’re even seeking them out. But, Alison Mosshart & Jamie Hince are witty, devious and stepping out of their minimalistic comfort zone with this album. We’ve previously seen them start to shed their minimalistic sound in 2016 when they released Ash & Ice, but with God Games, we see an explosive and bold reinvention of their sound, while still staying true to the edginess that they’re known for.
The album opens with ‘New York’, a symphony of dramatic horns, and a sleek guitar riff; Alison’s raspy voice sings “You taste just like New York Before a storm takes hold / You race like you are high and armed - And I’m alarmed,” comparing a lover to the city that never sleeps, full of intensity & the belief that the city can either make you or break you. Not too long after, we’re met with an almost psychedelic, gospel-infused ballad-esque ‘LA Hex’, where the two sing in unison, accompanied by warped trumpets and background chanting. God Games radiates swagger, and a release pent-up creativity, that only those seven years away from the studio could bring us.
The Kills stick with a darker, more ominous sound throughout God Games which is emphasized by Hince’s guitar work, and Alison’s powerful vocals. We still see lighter moments with songs like ‘Going to Heaven’, which has a beat that makes you almost want to dance a little. Then there are songs like ‘103’ and ‘Blank’ that spotlight the piano by bringing it to the forefront instead of the gritty guitar riffs that are usually the star of the show for The Kills. The textures that we hear in the composition of the album make it compelling and make it feel like it belongs together. God Games is a 40-minute experience you can easily lose yourself in and not realize how quickly it goes by.
God Games proves that after all this time away The Kills have evolved and sharpened their artistic edge. Mosshart began composing on a cheap toy keyboard that Hince got her and Hince wrote on piano instead of guitar. The album is intense, and captivating and demonstrates that The Kills have expanded into fresh musical territory, expanding their sound which they have been cultivating for over twenty years now, but they still remain true to who they are musically. This new sound just makes sense.
Viviana Mendoza
★★★★☆