I Killed The Prom Queen or
IKTPQ is an Australian metalcore band that was formed in the year 2000. Like
many other bands IKTPQ has gone through a few changes in members but currently
they are as follows: Jona Weinhofen, Kevin Cameron, Jamie Hope, Shane O'Brien
and Benjamin Coyte.
Beloved is IKTPQ’s latest album. Before
that they released When Goodbye Means Forever... (2003) which put them on the
map. It was well received by the metal community. The success of their first
studio album inspired them to issue another one 3 years later. It is named Music
for the Recently Deceased (2006). Some say that the band peaked with that album
and they are never to return. The rumours began to spread even faster when the
band lost their former vocalist and split up in 2007. Luckily for us, Jamie
Hope joined IKTPQ. They immediately started working on the album Beloved. This
got fans positively hyped and eventually satisfied. Beloved received positive
feedback from all over the world and is their most successful album yet.
Beloved has 11 songs, 2 of which are
collaborations with other bands. To me, listening to this album is a story. An
emotional and fictional journey through the feelings and meanings of the
author’s words. I will do my best to describe everything I felt the first time
I heard this album.
1 1. “Beginning if the End” – This song is considered to be the intro to the whole album.
Whenever is hear this song I start falling into a blissful abyss. It feeds me
with positive anger. This anger has a physical manifestation.
1 2.“To the Wolves” – This is the song where the physically manifested anger really
starts to make me move. It is impossible to stay still. My hands start
flailing, my feet begin to rise higher and higher. I can feel the temperature
rising.
1 3.“Bright Enough” – My blood is boiling, my hair is whipping and my energy level just
keeps on rising. I have become completely oblivious to the outside world. I
close my eyes and imagine myself in an empty field.
1 4. "Melior”
– The field is in flames. This is where I lose my mind completely. I roar like
a bear and I fly like an eagle. I have become everything I fear. I am
invincible. This flow of emotions has made me into something I should have been
since birth.
1 5. "Thirty One & Sevens" – I open my eyes. The field is still in flames but I am
no longer the fearsome beast I was before. I am engulfed by the fire. Suddenly
I realize….I am the fire. The fire is me. I am the last creation of mankind.
6."Calvert Street" – Everything around me goes silent yet my mind is still in
turmoil. I can’t hear my own thoughts. This seems like a battle within me. My
eyes are open but I cannot see. From a distance I can hear a soothing voice.
7."Kjærlighet"
– This soothing voice is creeping closer. I can feel its warmth. It takes form
as a ball of light. I just stand here. Slowly my mind clears. I can hear it
now. I can hear what the light has to say.
8."The Beaten Path"–FIND YOUR WAY!! FIND YOUR WAY!! The light screams!! I begin
to feel malice. A new kind of hatred courses through my veins. Everything I
detest and despise is now surrounding me. I must find a way through it all. I
feel lost and yet I feel at home. There must be an escape….
9."Nightmares"
– I begin my quest. I must find a place where I can be at peace. Every step I
take is either closer to my Heaven or another trap of aggression. I start
running. I no longer care where I step or what I am headed to. I know I can’t
stand still. I must keep running. I must fight.
10."No One Will Save Us" – With my two fist pumping through the air I make my
way. I make my own way. I now know that I am alone. I had a shred of hope
before but now it is gone. This is my life, my journey and my end. I let out
one last warcry and prepare myself.
11."Brevity"
– This is my resolve. I shut my eyes and feel the fire inside. I burn!!
Everything around my burns. The flames eat away all my anger. My fears are
gone. My enemies are done. It is just me in an empty field. I am exhausted and
fall asleep. I wake up in my room, still flailing my hands and kicking my legs.
Like I mentioned before, this album is a
journey. Every person experiences it differently and that is how is should be.
However, I failed to mention how important are the instruments. The lyrics
create the journey but the music creates the setting. When you start to feel
anger, it is not just because there were a few bad or angry words. It is
because the guitars are speeding up, the drums become relentless and the bass
keeps hitting the lower chords again and
again. Ignorant people might think that all metalcore music is full of hatred
and anger just because there is a person “screaming” throughout the song. That
is a very short-sighted opinion and vision. Most people do not know how much
practice and skill it takes to achieve such vocal abilities without hurting and
damaging your throat.
I just wish that more people would
appreciate the time and effort it takes to produce this kind of music. Nowadays
it is just one guy behind a laptop. He klicks his mouse and presses spacebar –
song complete. But IKTPQ, they have band practice daily, even when they are on
tour. They actually know how to play an instrument, most of them know more than
one. They invest themselves into their music. That is why I think every person
in the world should at least listen to them once.
Signe-Renate Saar
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