Album Review: Kittie - Fire

On June 21, 2024, Kittie released their 7th studio record Fire via Sumerian Records.

Fire is the band's first album of new material in thirteen years, having released their last album I Have Failed You in 2011. Nick Raskulinecz (Ghost, Death Angel, Mastodon, and Trivium) produced the record.

The album has generated four singles and video treatments thus far: "Eyes Wide Open," "We Are Shadows," "Vultures," and "One Foot in the Grave."

With the nu-metal genre experiencing a resurrection of sorts in the past couple of years with bands like Coal Chamber and Mudvayne returning to active touring and recording status, Kittie's return could not have come at a more perfect time.

So is Kittie's new album Fire actually fire? (Cringe, I know) Let's dig into it!

Setting the title track "Fire" as the first one on the album was a solid choice. The song opens with a single-note riff and some spoken phrases that were just enough to refresh my memory and set the perfect mood for the album. The verses are reminiscent of Godsmack's "Straight Outta of Line," but overall, it stands as a great "Welcome Back" song.

I haven't settled on a favorite track quite yet, but the two songs that have received the majority of my listening attention are 'We Are Shadows' and 'One Foot in the Grave.' Both are similar in the sense that Morgan Lander uses mainly clean vocals, with growls deeper in the mix. The opening to 'Grave' gives us a swerve, it sounds like it would be more fitting as a post-solo break, and not an intro, but it just sounds phenomenal.

Morgan and Mercedes's ability to maintain a tight, rhythmic synchrony together is one of my favorite parts of Fire, and overall, with Ivy Vugic on bass and Tara McCloud on guitars, this is the strongest the group has ever sounded.

Fire is the third album this iteration of the band has recorded together and their chemistry appears to be in peak from.

I have always enjoyed Morgan's ability to shift her vocals from growling to clean; it adds a unique touch to the material. There is something haunting about some of her performances on Fire, particularly on the opening track and 'Shadows.' Her pure vocals sound better than ever, even though her capacity to snarl does not seem to be as robust as it was on earlier albums.

Fire is an aptly titled record that oozes passion from its pores. While I don't feel that Kittie broke any new ground on the record, the band paid homage to all the different eras of their career, making Fire unquestionably among their best works to date.

Rating: 8/10
Release Date: June 21st 2024
Released By: Sumerian Records
FFO: Lamb of God, Machine Head, Devildriver

Track List

1. Fire
2. I Still Wear This Crown
3. Falter
4. Vultures
5. We Are Shadows
6. Wound
7. One Foot In The Grave
8. Are You Entertained?
9. Grime
10. Eyes Wide Open