Eyes Set to Kill

Eyes Set To Kill are certainly a Hot Topic-friendly, dualistic metal band. That is, the Tempe, AZ based quintet combine a cute, yet dark, Emily The Strange image with nasty, if somewhat pedestrian, guitar work. It also helps that ESTK employ hot chicks, who are sisters, in the roles of vocalist/guitarist and bassist. The band is able to connect with all factions of metal fans; they can serve as role models for grrls that possess a serious metal jones, and they also give the amped up boys something pretty to look at when they take a break from the moshpit chaos. Musically, there is a set formula in place for most of Reach: sweet vocals are jutted up against chunky, modern metallic riffery.

Frontlady Alexia Rodriguez lets out shrieks that appear to have clawed from the depths of hell, which allows Reach to fall somewhere between Kittie and Walls Of Jericho on the female-fronted metal scale. However, ESTK's music is glazed with a sugary coating that the aforementioned band's intentionally lack. The title track is poppy, textbook screamo, with tons of granite heavy riffs tucked next to melodic parts, both of which illustrate just how brutal and beautiful the band can be at any given moment. "Liar In The Glass" cycles through tension and release, with some moshtastic breakdowns at the end of the song, and is the album's best track. ESTK, while not taking sledge hammer and breaking any sort of new ground, are a good jumping off point for younger kids looking to get into harder music.

—Amy Sciarretto
02.21.08