The Romance of Helen Trent (album)

If you ever wished Rise Against had more songs in the vein of "Blood-Red, White, and Blue" or "State of the Union", this album is for you. Except it's heavier. Much nastier. The production is so raw. It almost feels like it's the entire band being recorded at once from the use of only two guitars hard panned to the way backing vocals in the album are performed. Weird song structures. Panic chords. LOTS of breakdowns. Singing that might make you question if some parts are even in key. But it doesn't matter. It all keeps you on your toes itching for more. The Killing Tree lyrically portrays more personal themes as opposed the obviously overall politically charged messages through the Rise Against discography. Yet, it feels as if this band had so much more to say, so much more edge, and so much more willpower to take risks. The music is more challenging than Rise Against with less melodic emphasis, and significantly more chaos musically. More technical guitar work than your usual Rise Against track with riffs pulled straight out of the metal handbook. The members of the band also had to literally use aliases due to contractual obligations just so they could get away with even getting this album out to begin with. There wasn't even an official contract signed with any label for this album, leaving ownership rights to the masters up in the air where people have taken it upon themselves to just distribute the album entirely consequence-free. I wish I could have been present at a show when this band was active. However, given the way Rise Against and Tim McIlrath have neutered their approach not just to music, but how outspoken they are on political issues, maybe it's best The Killing Tree stay as a capsule for a time where Tim McIlrath wasn't afraid of risks. When he was willing to challenge his guitar playing. When he was willing to challenge his vocal intensity. When he was willing to potentially violate a contract just to create music he loved. When he wasn't afraid to explicitly say "Fuck George Bush and his fucking war" on stage.