Dan Hillier
For those uninitiated, Kyiv’s Death Pill are a direct product of resistance. Formed as a kickback against not just the toxic masculinity in their local scene but society and culture as a whole, the Ukrainian trio’s mission statement is one of pure defiance. Granted, whilst this sense of bold and violent rebellion was originally against male domination, as the years shifted from plague to now war, their sense of resistance has only compounded. Now after garnering their place in their Ukrainian scene – one that is still rallying strong in the face of war itself – the trio have channeled this profound sense of resistance and contempt into their debut body of work; their righteously violent and dynamically energetic self-titled full length.
From the get go, this record emits a sense of ironclad resilience that’s delivered with all the subtle grace of a key-lined fist to the nose. With their Riot Grrl and thrash influences not only proudly on show and fully weaponised with force, the opening barrage ‘Dirty Rotten Youth’, ‘Miss Revolt’ and ‘Die For Vietnam’ knocks one down with the kind of force that once propelled the likes of Exodus and Overkill into the eye of prominence back in the 80’s. It’s unrelenting, especially with Mariana Navrotskaya’s screeches and riffs driving these tracks forward. But whilst volatile trash is certainly the crux of the band’s output – something that’s especially evident in the lacerating solos and riffs of the aforementioned ‘Die For Vietnam’ – it’s the foundation of Riot Grrl sensibilities that counteract the obnoxiousness and add vital substance to the band’s output.
Mauling trash may certainly be the key of the record on the surface, but this is undeniably a punk record at heart. From the sass delivery within the opening tracks of the record to the full Riot Grrl rager that is ‘It’s A Joke’ – a track that documents how some men see the horrifying subject of sexual abuse nothing more than a punchline – this is an album of righteous punk sentiment that’s only bolstered through it’s metallic coating and sensibilities.’Kill The Traitors’ and ‘Расцарапаю Ебало’ – a track that literally translates to ‘scratch asshole’, a loving tribute to an unmissed ex lover – are brilliant examples of this fusion. Even though thrash and punk are stereotypically genres seen as simplistic, obnoxious and lacking in detail, the way in which Death Pill amalgamate qualities from both genres within these tracks is one of fluid dynamism and intricate focus. This, combined with the honest and ravenous passion fuelling the record makes for an ultimately thrilling, yet deep listening experience.
But regardless of the dynamism, the most overt competent of this record is it’s profound sense of resilience. Whilst it may not be directly inspired by the unjust war being waged against their home country – with the record being written prior to the events of February 24th 2022 – it is certainly born of oppression and one fulled by resistance. It’s nigh on impossible not to feel this in every riff, and bellow of this record; every righteous second feels like a call to arms against the powers and figures of injustice, despotism and persecution. That, combined with it’s thrash delivery and Riot Grrl sensibilities results on this record being a must listen for anyone with even the penchant for musical rebellion in any form. Death Pill may have had their career alerted through war and violence, but with this striking, potent and righteous record, they will no doubt see and freedom through sheer will and befitting aggressive determination.