Fucking hell.
Even after the band’s epic showing at Download, the frenetic Spit XXV hits hard, Morgan Lander delivering her vocals with a level of vitriol that causes all but the most foolhardy to take a step back. I’m not ready for this…
A little context (and a chance to repair my shattered nerves)
Offering four re-recorded tracks from Kittie’s incendiary 1999 debut, Spit XXV celebrates 25 years (damn, really?) since Kittie first clawed their way onto the scene, and it serves as a potent reminder of the band’s myriad strengths.
It opens, as noted above, with the feral title track and the first thing to note is that the band have leaned upon their skills and experience rather than modern production tropes, the production remaining blisteringly raw and full blooded. A reminder that Kittie stood proudly alongside the biggest hitters of the late 90s, Spit is a true anthem for the damned, and it’s great to hear the band tearing into it with such ferocity here. Arguably the biggest change is Morgan’s vocal delivery which, while less manic than the original, is no less potent. It’s followed by Do You Think That I’m A Whore?, an underrated gem that takes the hard-hitting melodicism of Alice in Chains, combining it with the dark grooves of Soulfly and the abrasive rage of My Ruin to impressive effect.
Another track that crosses genre boundaries at will, Brackish is arguably the song that most closely dates this EP to its era, the rhythmic delivery and scattershot rhythms very much of the nu metal ilk that dominated the late 90s. Still absolutely brutal, it may not quite reach the levels of ferocity that would become the band’s stock in trade as they progressed, but it’s a hell of a hard-edged song, made all the more impressive when you consider the band were in their teens when it was written.
The EP wraps up with Charlotte, a stabbing melodic number which lays bare the alt-rock influences that swirled around Kittie during their formative years – the end result sitting somewhere between Silverchair, Drain, and Pantera in the chain of inspiration. Always a powerful entry in the band’s canon, it’s great to hear it given new life here.
Kittie have evolved considerably since they first appeared on the scene in 1999, emerging as a harder, darker musical force along the way. However, with Spit XXV, the band highlight the skill, the energy, and the passion that was there from the get-go. While it can be a dangerous thing to revisit old works, with Spit XXV, Kittie have successfully recaptured the flame of their youth with a skill and poise that is frequently breathtaking. This is a worthy celebration that is equally vital for longtime fans and newcomers alike. 8.5/10
