Walls of Jericho
“All Hail The Dead”
Trustkill Records
Of the slew of female-fronted metal bands — bands like Kittie, Otep and Arch Enemy to name a few — Walls of Jericho, really stand out from the pack. Unlike other frontwomen who can either switch the metal on or off — fluctuating between the hardcore and death metal growl or the more feminine singing — Walls lead singer Candace Kucsulain can tear through track after track in full hardcore mode while still maintaining the slight femininity in her voice which is a great touch.
The band — Kucsulain, bassist Aaron Ruby, drummer Alexei Rodriguez (formerly of Catharsis) and guitarists Chris Rawson and Mike Hasty — has been a staple on the hardcore scene for a couple of years now. The band toured relentlessly following the release of its Trustkill debut, “The Bound Feed the Gagged,” and really established itself on the scene. “All Hail the Dead” is set to further the band’s legacy and does a great job at doing just that.
From the opening title-track, it’s clear WoJ are tighter and stronger than ever. Ruby’s machine-gun like bass work teamed with Rodriguez’ double-bass drumming is relentless, allowing the listener little time to come up for air as Kucsulain tears through her vocals. The same goes for the follow-up, “There’s No I in Fuck You,” which unfolds as a perfect hardcore anthem with thudding beats and scratchy vocals.
“A Little Piece of Me” has a little thrash metal element mixed into the overall sound, and Rodriguez’ drumming really shines as he never misses a beat tearing through fill after fill. The band shows hints of old-school Slayer at times and Kucsulain’s vocals really blossom into an anger-filled amalgam.
There’s a changeup vocally on tracks four and five, “Another Anthem For The Hopeless” and “Revival Never Goes Out Of Style,” with Kucsulain adding in some more melodic backing vocals. That adds a nice element to the band’s sound that might prove interesting if incorporated more into the band’s “sound.” “Revival” also has a great sing-a-long chorus that features the whole band joining in on backing vocals towards the end of the track.
As “All Hail”¦” unfolds, the tracks start to feel a little repetitive. The band seems unwilling to change it up too much, but the quality of the musicianship and vocals keep everything from becoming boring.
Rodriguez’ drumming is, hands down, the star of this release. Everything else seems built up around his skills. Kucsulain’s voice is great for hardcore singing  the backing melody is haunting and the subtle female nuance is definitely a plus. The band’s vocalist is also aware of the groups place in the hardcore scene and how important the scene is to fans  as she points out at the Trustkill Web-site: “What is important to me about our band’s music is what is a common thread throughout the hardcore scene. Hardcore’s aggression has been appealing to me  because when I was younger I was an angry kid, and I was having to deal with the emotions that life forces on you. This band becomes a way for me to vent, even now.”
At times, “All Hail”¦” feels a little repetitive, but overall it’s a solid release chock full of tight, intense music.
