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Rib Eye Rock

KillinGracy releases Hands Around You

 

“Rib eye rock on lightly toasted bread” is the meaty metaphor Chris Aguilar once offered an inquirer when describing his band, KillinGracy. Aguilar admits he had no idea what he was talking about at the time but says this style of shooting from the hip sums up the band's songwriting process and sound.

 

KillinGracy formed in 2003 and was made of remnants of defunct band Woodhead. After enduring lineup changes over the years, its current members include Aguilar on vocals and guitar, Greg Hutson on bass, Lenny Romero on drums and Joe Sena on guitar. This week the dudes release Hands Around You. The full-length album, recorded by Sena at “KG Studios,” is a part metal, part rock. It sounds crisp, but not processed, and contains interesting elements. The title track, for instance, opens with 911 calls, marching snare drum and a gloomy bass line, then gets down to business with a tough guitar lick and badass distortion.

Aguilar says a theme—which he won’t reveal (beef steak?)—runs through the recording. "The lyrics are personal, as I don’t write in character, but some are observations or stories," he says via e-mail. "I tend to write, though, in a way that allows the listener to get out of it what they will—who am I to say they identified with it wrong?"

Identify with KillinGracy in your own special way this weekend at its album release party—the band takes the stage at 11 p.m.