Whitechapel – Kin (Review)

Whitechapel have come a long way from their “classic” Deathcore beginnings to the whole different monster that is their new album Kin. Not only sound-wise, but also lyrically. From murder stories (The Somatic Defilement) to more political topics (This is Exile and A New Era of Corruption) to some personal themes (Whitechapel) and everything in between (Our Endless War and Mark of the Blade).

The Valley was a very significant album in their discography. Not only dealt it with some heavy personal background but it also showed Whitechapel in their most creative and diverse musical way. They had clean vocals before but on The Valley they achieved the best implementation of them. Songs like “Hickory Creek” or “When a Demon Defiles a Witch” felt much more organic than “Bring me Home” (off Mark of the Blade), which is of course just my humble opinion.

On Kin Whitechapel evolve even further when it comes to the variety of musical influences. The album starts off with “I Will Find You” and the already known songs “Lost Boy” and “A Bloodsoaked Symphony“. Those three songs represent in an excellent way how Whitechapel sound in 2021: thick guitars, the punishing drums of newly introduced bandmate Alex Rüdinger and Phil Bozeman in his prime. On a side-note: “A Bloodsoaked Symphony” reminds me somehow of “Devolver” (A New Era of Corruption) with its guitars in the chorus.

The first big surprise for me is “Anticure” which sounds like a classic midtempo Rock song combined with the traditional Whitechapel heaviness. The chorus will stay in head for days and this song is clearly a highlight for me.

Another song that stands out is “To the Wolves“, the by far heaviest track of Kin. High speed tempo, vocals from hell and a pure ripper from start to finish. When concerts will become a common thing again, this track will surely incite some pretty ugly scenes in front of the stages.

The title-track and closer “Kin” fits perfectly. Just like its predecessor “Doom Woods”, it bring the album to an atmospheric end. In contrast to “Doom Woods” which felt like an open-end to a Horror-Movie, “Kin” feels more like closure. Mostly clean sung, Phil Bozeman can once again show, how much he improved as a singer.

Kin is a great album. With The Valley Whitechapel found their final form and Kin perfects it. The band never sounded more organic, sure of their sound, than on this album. Whitechapel are in their own league and this album proves it one more time.