Kittie
Spit XXV
Sumerian Records
When the original ‘Spit’ hit record stores 25 years ago its effect on heavy music was seismic. Here was a band turning out a debut album brimming full of innovation as well as brutality. Even today you can still hear songs composed that owe so much to the Kittie of a quarter of a century ago. And now we have this blast-o-rama of an EP to mark the occasion. No simple re-masters here, oh no, here we have four completely re-recorded versions, one of the title track, plus ‘Do You Think I’m A Whore’, ‘Brackish’ and ‘Charlotte’, arguably the four strongest to feature on an album brimming with big hitters. You can certainly hear how far the band have developed in that time, but also how well the writing stands up too. The musicianship is sharp and the vocals ferocious aided by original producer Garth Richardson’s talent and familiarity with the songs. Simply put, if this was a debut by a new band it would be making some serious waves. Every metalhead needs ‘Spit XXV’ on their playlist, and they need to have the original album right next to it too.
Review by Gary Trueman