Album Review: Cane Hill – Kill The Sun

On the song Acid Rain, Cane Hill frontman Elijah Witt sings, ‘I don’t want to go too far away from myself.’ A year since the release of their second album, his band have certainly gone a long way away from what’s expected. Kill The Sun? Kill The Constant Nu-Metal Comparisons, more like. This six-song EP is a largely acoustic affair which trades in their trademark sound for a load of understated introspection.

Empty shows that mellowness suits the New Orleans degenerates unexpectedly well, with the gentle strumming and Spanish guitar finger-picking revealing another string to their bow. Smoking Man, meanwhile, offers another curveball, with sci-fi synths and sub-bass pulses enhancing the closing track’s sense of moodiness.

The general vibe here recalls the way ’90s grunge bands would occasionally throw out an acoustic release in order to pursue their lighter impulses. Chances are this is just such a detour, but it’s one worth the journey.

Verdict: KKK
Words: Olly Thomas