The Valley was a landmark moment in Whitechapel’s career in 2019. With emotional rawness and brutal honesty, the world caught a glimpse of the turbulent and traumatic world that vocalist Phil Bozeman was raised in, on what would be their darkest release to date. Utilising a more dynamic and diverse approach, it was this record that set a new precedent for the genre. Ever since the dust settled, the world has waited eagerly with bated breath to hear the follow up to this landmark release. In walks Kin, an even more diverse and dynamic album which pushes the band’s sound evolution into even more new territory.
Kin in someways is a sequel to The Valley. Further expanding on The Valley’s lyrical themes but from the perspective of Phil’s alternate reality/negative self and the ensuing battle that Phil fights with this shadowy figure so he can move on from his painful past. Kin also pertains to family, throughout the album Phil speaks about his parents and the pain associated with his family, as his negative self lives through his worst trauma over and over again. ‘I Will Find You’ carries on directly from ‘Doom Woods’ binding both albums inextricably, given that the band haven’t shied away from their new sound, rather they’ve fully embraced it with incredible vigour, you’re left with something truly remarkable. Recreating the initial magic of The Valley would be a daunting prospect, however Kin has its own unique magic.
The haunting lyrics on the album coupled with the delicate acoustic and ambient sections, juxtaposed by the bands signature aggressive heaviness demonstrates Whitechapel’s incredible ability to push the boundaries yet execute it so well it feels natural. As the album progresses it takes on a more sombre tone, deeply reflective and incredibly thought provoking. With the album incorporating more rock orientated passages, with soaring solos as demonstrated on album closer ‘Kin’, it has allowed Bozeman to explore his range even further. There is a haunting innocence in his clean vocals that would stir even the blackest souls into an emotional frenzy. You can feel the very real pain being cathartically released as he sings the heartbreaking lyrics in ‘Without Us’, ‘Kin’ and ‘Orphan’. Whilst the stories told in this album are incredibly personal to Phil, there is something that everyone can take away from this album in relation to their own pain and trauma. Opening up in this way has given Whitechapel the opportunity to be more artistic and it is one they have grabbed with both hands.
The strong and awe-inspiring, complex emotional resonance that this album possesses is something that is not easily described, Kin is very much about experiencing and expressing these dark, uncomfortable and haunting emotions fully. The main component of that would be the prominence of the acoustic guitar. It may surprise some listeners how frequently it is used but its solemn, sombre tones add a special intricacy and intimacy, demonstrating Whitechapel’s determined dedication to this sound evolution to become the best that they can be. Layered vocals and harmonies give the album considerable depth, reinforcing the already immense power contained within the lyrics. Everyone will resonate strongly with Kin, combining the world renowned discordant chaos with delicate acoustic passages in a genre dominated by breakdowns and gutturals puts the band way ahead of the pack.
The album oozes creative brilliance through out, from the heavy beast of ‘Lost Boy’ to the heartbreaking ‘Orphan’. It is as much a rock album as much as a metal album, but they certainly haven’t lost their harshest edges. Raw, uncompromising and phenomenal, Whitechapel have raised the standard to a whole new echelon.