Kill II This
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Manchester , England |
| Products | Music albums |
Kill II This (occasionally stylized as Kill 2 This) is a groove metal and industrial metal group originating from Manchester, England.
Formation and Another Cross II Bare (1995–1997)
Kill II This merges elements of extreme metal with influences drawn from dance, hip hop/trip-hop, and soul genres. Terrorizer magazine characterized their music as a fusion of industrial sampling techniques combined with heavy guitar riffs, resulting in an aggressive yet rhythmic sound.
Their first album, Another Cross II Bare, was released in 1997 and featured Jeff Singer on drums, Pete Stone handling bass duties, and Nick Arlea as vocalist. That year, the band supported Grip Inc. and Skinlab during UK dates in June, followed by a European tour alongside Megadeth during the Cryptic Writings tour.
Deviate era (1998–2000)
The sophomore album, Deviate, came out in 1998 with new members Matt Pollock on vocals and Caroline Campbell playing bass. After recording, Ben Calvert took over drumming responsibilities for live performances, replacing Jeff Singer. Metal Hammer lauded the album as "a collection filled with raw gems; moody riffs that maintain energy and assured grooves." In 2000, Kill II This toured the UK supporting Earthone 9 and Linea 77 in the spring, then shared stages with Brutal Deluxe and emerging band Lostprophets in autumn.
Trinity period (2000–2002)
The third studio release, Trinity, featured Burton C. Bell from Fear Factory contributing vocals on a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Two Tribes". The album received a range of critical responses. During December 2001, Kill II This supported Godflesh and Devin Townsend on a UK tour and later opened for Soil’s UK debut in January 2002. Kerrang! commended the band for integrating two decades of heavy guitar influences into a modern and innovative sound.
Mass. [Down.]-Sin.(Drone) and disbandment (2002–2004)
Released in 2003, the fourth album Mass.[Down.]-Sin.(Drone) included Phil Bretnall on vocals, Steve Rooney on drums, and saw the return of bassist Pete Stone. The group embarked on a European tour alongside Anthrax, Fear Factory, Type O Negative, Slipknot, and Machine Head before headlining their own European tour with support from Area 54.
In 2004, Mark Mynett revealed that their upcoming fifth album would mark the band's conclusion. This final project, named A New Spiritual Mountain, was issued under the new moniker City of God and featured Jeff Singer (formerly of Paradise Lost), Simon Gordon (ex-Xentrix/Hellfighter), and Tim Preston (ex-Dearly Beheaded). No touring followed this release, signaling the end of Kill II This.
Activities after disbandment (2004–2014)
Following the band's dissolution, Mark Mynett pursued an academic career as Senior Lecturer in Music Technology & Production at the University of Huddersfield in Manchester. He was highlighted in the November 2009 edition of Sound on Sound magazine discussing techniques in 'Extreme Metal Production'. Mynett continues to produce music utilizing the university’s state-of-the-art recording studios.
Reformation (2014–2022)
Kill II This reunited towards the end of 2014, featuring founding members Mark Mynett, Pete Stone, Jeff Singer, alongside new frontman Simon Gordon (formerly of City of God). Their comeback included a performance at Belgium’s La Fiesta Du Rock festival in October 2014, where they introduced fresh songs "Coma Karma" and "Sleeper Cell". Mynett noted that these new compositions would reflect the sound of their Deviate album, updated with contemporary influences.
In 2016, the band appeared at Bloodstock Festival and revealed plans for a UK tour scheduled for October and November. They premiered the "Sleeper Cell" music video in May 2017, followed by the "Coma Karma" video released in February 2019 through their official YouTube channel.
On 7 January 2022, Kill II This shared news that their upcoming album was nearing completion, later confirming on 20 January that the track "Coma Karma" would be part of the record.
Variant (2024)
Revolver Records announced in February 2024 the forthcoming release of Kill II This's fifth studio album, Variant, which had undergone significant revision since its initial 2016 announcement. The album is set for release in May on both CD and vinyl formats. Promotion for the album included singles such as "Less Human", "Deus", "Heart-Shaped Grenade", along with a reimagined version of "Coma Karma". The band’s live performance debut supporting the album is planned for Funeral Fest in June.
Line-up
- Current members
- Simon Gordon – lead vocals (2014–present)
- Mark Mynett – guitar (1995–2004, 2014–present)
- Pete Stone – bass guitar (1995–1998, 2003–2004, 2014–present)
- Jeff Singer – drums (1995–1998, 2014–present)
- Former members
- Phillip Bretnall – lead vocals (2002–2004)
- Steve Rooney – drums (2003–2004)
- Nick Arlea – lead vocals (1995–1998)
- Matt Pollock – lead vocals (1998–2002)
- Caroline Campbell – bass guitar (1998–2002)
- Ben Calvert – drums (1998–2002)
Discography
- 1996: Another Cross II Bare
- 1998: Deviate
- 2001: Trinity
- 2003: mass.(down.)-sin.(drone)
- 2024: Variant
External links
- Band biography at bnrmetal.com