Kill To Kill offers an innocent yet sinister smile

Kill To Kill, Fighter
(Guilt Ridden Pop)

Local trio Kill To Kill's engrossing debut disc makes an effective argument against normal guitars: Here, the usual six-string is swapped out for a baritone, which, along with bass and the pop of well-placed snare, lends the album a dark and acidic sound without the muddiness expected from that much low end.

Kill To Kill also owes its generous appeal to Sylvia Izabella's vocals, which recall the female voices of '90s indie rock that married innocence with outrage (Sonic Youth and Blonde Redhead are clear touchstones). Izabella packs a lot of personality into the songs' minimal lyrics, sometimes playing a weary, fed-up adult, and other times turning into the playground bully ("I hope your dog dies," she taunts on "Kid Whore"). Even when her yelps are at their most childlike and Karen O-esque, there's always something sinister lurking behind the grin. When she sings, "I'd like to be your friend / And when we get together, then we can party," you get the sneaking suspicion that the poor suckers who fall for her invite may be greeted with a bucket of pig's blood above the front door.

Grade: A-
Upcoming shows: Oct. 22, Hexagon Bar