Review: Luna Kills — Deathmatch (2025)
A ferocious fusion of industrial chaos and raw metal energy that leaves absolutely no room for compromise
In reality, Deathmatch can hardly be called the debut album by Luna Kills, as the musicians had previously self-released two full-length records. However, they chose to remove those from public access when they signed with the label SharpTone Records. This sort of reboot and new collaboration clearly benefited Luna Kills, as the band finally found their signature sound, style, and direction. Their music is a rollercoaster, where nu-metal blends with electronic elements, softness mixes with fury, and bitterness turns into a triumph. The only things that remain unchanged are their rage, audacity, and nihilism.
My introduction to this band happened a couple of years ago, right when the musicians released their new single “Super Sick” in early 2023. Back then, in an interview for this blog, Luna Kills predicted that their upcoming album would be a real hurricane.
Ultimately, Deathmatch is a genuinely good combination of the modern scene's spirit and classical elements from the 2000s rock school. Polished and loud, it possesses a rebellious spirit while avoiding any sense of inconsistency between the tracks.
My introduction to this band happened a couple of years ago, right when the musicians released their new single “Super Sick” in early 2023. Back then, in an interview for this blog, Luna Kills predicted that their upcoming album would be a real hurricane.
Ultimately, Deathmatch is a genuinely good combination of the modern scene's spirit and classical elements from the 2000s rock school. Polished and loud, it possesses a rebellious spirit while avoiding any sense of inconsistency between the tracks.
Unlike their scene peers, the band Cyan Kicks, Luna Kills did not fall into self-repetition. Instead, they filled their album with diverse and interesting tracks, focusing less on just being recognizable and more on the strengths of their skills. They also created an excellent frame for the expressive vocals of Lotta Ruutiainen. She, by the way, truly wins on all fronts, sounding far more confident on this album than on the band's previous releases. She handles extreme vocals brilliantly, avoids the currently popular high-pitched, nasal register, and tries to showcase the full spectrum of her abilities. In my view, Lotta and the catchy, vibrant riffs are the main highlights of Deathmatch and Luna Kills as a whole.
Several tracks deserve special mention. The driving and vibrant opening song “Love U” perfectly sets the mood for the entire LP, helping listeners connect with the musical direction Luna Kills has chosen. The audacious “Sadist” also stands out, especially with its chorus that gets stuck in your head for a long time. I would also count the single “Slay Ur Enemies” among the album's best tracks—a phenomenal anthem about battling panic attacks that sounds like a call to arms. The explosive “Waves” serves as an excellent example of how electronic elements in rock music can complement a track rather than ruin it, adding charisma and atmosphere to the sound. Additionally, I want to highlight the final, melancholic, and ethereal track on the record, “Fever Dream”. Here, Lotta truly outdid herself vocally, and the arrangement is so cinematic that it would perfectly fit a heartbreaking, pivotal scene in a drama film, given its intense vibes of prayer and yearning.
What kept me from giving this album a perfect five-star rating? Partly, a few tracks that felt like filler to me—after all, a perfect album needs to be flawless from start to finish. It is wonderful that Luna Kills chose a path that, while mainstream among rockers, is not yet heavily trodden by most young Finnish musicians. However, they could still benefit from expanding their horizons. In the end, there is always room for growth, and with the solid foundation Luna Kills possesses, a creative dead end should be a long way off.
I highly recommend listening to the entire album; it is genuinely worth it.
Several tracks deserve special mention. The driving and vibrant opening song “Love U” perfectly sets the mood for the entire LP, helping listeners connect with the musical direction Luna Kills has chosen. The audacious “Sadist” also stands out, especially with its chorus that gets stuck in your head for a long time. I would also count the single “Slay Ur Enemies” among the album's best tracks—a phenomenal anthem about battling panic attacks that sounds like a call to arms. The explosive “Waves” serves as an excellent example of how electronic elements in rock music can complement a track rather than ruin it, adding charisma and atmosphere to the sound. Additionally, I want to highlight the final, melancholic, and ethereal track on the record, “Fever Dream”. Here, Lotta truly outdid herself vocally, and the arrangement is so cinematic that it would perfectly fit a heartbreaking, pivotal scene in a drama film, given its intense vibes of prayer and yearning.
What kept me from giving this album a perfect five-star rating? Partly, a few tracks that felt like filler to me—after all, a perfect album needs to be flawless from start to finish. It is wonderful that Luna Kills chose a path that, while mainstream among rockers, is not yet heavily trodden by most young Finnish musicians. However, they could still benefit from expanding their horizons. In the end, there is always room for growth, and with the solid foundation Luna Kills possesses, a creative dead end should be a long way off.
I highly recommend listening to the entire album; it is genuinely worth it.
Rating: 8/10
- Tuuli TalvinenFounder & Editor-in-ChiefAuthor