REVIEW: Killing of a Sacred Deer – Killing of a Sacred Deer [2024]
Artist: Killing of a Sacred Deer
Album: Killing of a Sacred Deer – EP
Drawing their name from a 2017 psychological thriller starring Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman—which in turn drew its name and influence from the final play by Grecian playwright Euripides titled Iphigenia in Aulis—Killing of a Sacred Deer boldly establish themselves as a dramatic, devastating force in the contemporary re-birth of deathcore before the listener even has a chance to press play. Born from the mind of Colter James (Serration, Mortality Rate, World of Pleasure, etc), Killing of a Sacred Deer is a pummeling amalgamation of metallic hardcore and deathcore that stands as another stunning entry in the ground-shattering “deathcore revival” that has dominated much of 2023 and the entirety of 2024. Home to explosive percussion, skin-rending riffs and shrill, primal vocals, Killing of a Sacred Deer is a colossal debut that does deathcore extraordinarily well with little in the way of frills or filler to distract from its lethal, pointed intensity.
The deathcore revival has seen a stunning number of new bands serve as figurative successors to the essential bands of the genre’s humble origins. Rather than feel like a “2024 version of X” or “deathcore band Y version 2.0,” Killing of a Sacred Deer utilize all the genre staples to provide a comprehensive tour through the mid-to-late 2000s without borrowing or drawing influence too heavily from any one particular style. James—known for outstanding drumming in Serration and beyond—continues to bring nothing short of immaculate percussion throughout the EP’s moderate runtime. Songs like the grisly introductory cut “Scarlett Halo” alongside the barn-burner “25.4 mm from Death” highlight both speed and percussion behind the kit, whereas “Devotion,” alongside “Mangled Flesh Cathedral” sacrifice speed for an intense, primitive ass-beating. Throughout the release, Killing of a Sacred Deer capture the gist of deathcore’s second coming without leaning too heavily into any one particular style—technical enough to be proficient and engaging, but bouncy and straightforward enough to slack the listener’s jaw just a touch. Lead single “Devotion” might highlight this the best, balancing a knack for unyielding brutality with well thought-out song structure and writing, Killing of a Sacred Deer demonstrate that while they would have no issue landing on a 2009 YouTube breakdown compilation video, there’s a lot more to them than that. Whats more, their holistic take on deathcore is amplified by stunning, minimal-but-thoughtful production from Oodelally Studios and Digital Ghost Audio. Wax Vessel said it first and arguably best—instead of strapping up in the arms race to see who can sound worst, fastest, Killing of a Sacred Deer retain a definite crunch and grit that is true to the genre’s origin without making it a focus—it comes naturally, as does everything that makes this release a gem.
With the influence from Euripidean writing and a 2017 film taking aim at mankind’s Hubris and the notion of fate that complicates it, it should come as no surprise that the vocal and lyrical aspects of Killing of a Sacred Deer are venomous and intermittently barbaric. Vocally, there is nothing that could come close to leaving the listener in want here. With guest appearances from many of Colter’s affiliated acts—and some unexpected features as well—there is an astounding amount of range abundant on such a brief, concentrated release. “25.4 mm from Death” is an example of everything Killing of a Sacred Deer do excellently both vocally and lyrically. Screeching howls and raw, bitter yells deliver grisly, malevolent lyrics with pinpoint precision, feeling vaguely aligned with the unsettling brutality that acts like Psycho-Frame boast in spades. Meanwhile, “Heaven Progenitor” takes on a decidedly less grisly and more existential flair—showcasing just another aspect in which Killing of a Sacred Deer have a boundless range.
I’m a deathcore junkie—have been since the mid 2000s, and I don’t think it’s going to slow down any time soon, especially with bands like Killing of a Sacred Deer popping up. A band that feels nostalgic without using nostalgia as a bait or gimmick, the band feel as though they’re a hair’s breadth away from bottling lightning on their debut. With four mind-melting tracks and two subtle, atmospheric interludes, this EP is a strong first step that feels as though it sees the band on the cusp of creating something genre-defining.
8.5/10
For Fans Of: Serration, Psycho-Frame, Peacemaker, Tracheotomy
By: Connor Welsh
