The Kills 'Ash & Ice' review

Image: The Kills

Various surgeries on his hand, and an impending divorce from fashion icon Kate Moss haven’t made this album the easiest to curate for Jamie Hince. However, five years since their last record, Blood Pressures, The Kills are back doing what they do best.

As the synth beat fades out into the background on album opener ‘Doing It To Death’, Hince’s unmistakeable piercing guitar riff completely eradicated any fears that his hand injury is going to affect his playing. Part time Dead Weather front-woman Alison Mosshart also proves her vocals are as powerful as ever as she tests out her high-pitched dexterity through a song destined to become a live favourite. 

The second track ‘Heart of a Dog’ is again supported by an electro-synth beat and showcases another moody guitar riff that Hince seemingly never runs out of. Mosshart highlights her ability to perfectly place pauses in her lyrics as she snarls "I need you, don’t ask me what it is, I want strings attached, un-natural as it feels". The Kills may not be pulling up any trees in terms of style, but it’s arguably some of their best work. 

‘Bitter Fruits’ offers more reverb heavy guitar work from Hince and ‘Siberian Nights’ shows not only can they produce stellar guitar riffs and vocals but can in-fact produce high quality overall songs. Couple that with a video featuring a wolf and a white horse directed by actor Giovanni Ribisi, and you’re on to a winner. 

Blues inspired ‘Hum of the Buzz’ gives you flashbacks of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac with a riff suitable of fronting any M&S food campaign, and Mosshart’s vocals are as strong here as on anywhere on the album. This is encapsulated in the line "I am a believer now that I ain’t thinking straight". 

Other slower number such as electro-inspired ‘Days of Why and How’ and The Last Goodbye-esque ‘That Love’ prove the duo are equally adept at slowing things down. 

Inspired by a jouney on the Trans-Siberian Express, Hince’s guitar parts on the album are sharper than ever and as Mosshart croons over some of her best-penned lyrics; It’s an impressive return to the studio. 

Into this? Check out our review of Minor Victories 'Minor Victories'