Featuring former members of Turmoil, The Kiss Of Death seem to have a rather large chip on their shoulder on this, their debut EP. A lethargic blend of stoner rock, sludge and gritty metalcore, the band not only assault the listener relentlessly, but also freely bruise and bloody themselves considerably in the process. Similar in ways to groups like Eyehategod, Pantera, and perhaps even Mastodon, this outfit see fit to trample anything in their path with a violently unmerciful ferocity and show no remore in doing so.

Thick, sludgy riffs and a determined rhythm section seem to be the groups strongest methods of attack, as heavy percussion and dense bass lines form an impregnable foundation under the wealth of barked/screamed vocals and chunky riffs. Finding a winding stoner styled groove, and then riding it out until it becomes a veritable trench is where the band excel however. By doing exactly that they are able to ruthlessly unleash volley after volley of blunt force aural trauma while still keeping the listener locked right in. Perhaps the most interesting thing about The Kiss Of Death however, is that there is a decided lack of southern flavor to their music - a style often associated with sludgier territory.

In turn, while the band do incorporate some catchy stoner styled riffs, they generally remain devoid of the any fuzzy distortion or hearty down home bravado. This direction thus leaves them to mutate into a much heavier primal beast that is quite refreshing in the face of the recent resurgence of technically structured metal. This is not to say The Kiss Of Death aren't proficient musicians though, just that they'd rather issue their audience a beatdown with a spiked bat than a razor sharp katana. At times it can be hit and miss and it sure isn't for everyone, but The Kiss Of Death still deliver an enjoyable experience that is a damn good listen all the same.