The Venn diagram of punk and metal is getting more and more confusing by the day. Crossover, powerviolence, beatdown-core – we’re starting to run out of pigeonholes. So where do Kettering’s noisiest, Let It Die, fit into all this?
Singer Red keeps it simple – “we’re a punk band playing thrash.” The band’s Facebook page namechecks His Hero Is Gone, Cursed, Tragedy and Dropdead. These guys aren’t exactly jolly. Their riffs, supplied by guitarist Ben and bassist Dean, have all the crunch of thrash metal blended with the blastbeat goodness of prime powerviolence courtesy of drummer Alex, with songwriting that sounds like Converge if they couldn’t be bothered with all that fiddly stuff because they’re just too damn angry. Capping it all is Red’s unique vocals – he sounds like he’s already half-shouted himself hoarse trying to right the wrongs of the world, and yet is exhorted to keep shouting because this fuckin' world still stinks.
Hardcore orthodoxy is avoided, as Red confirms that “Let It Die have straight edge members, but we are not a straight edge band.” Instead, inspiration comes from a slightly more unusual literary source. “My favourite topics to shout about are the concepts of ego, self-interest and the downfall of humanity, chiefly influenced by Ayn Rand. I also cover communication, honesty and betrayal.”
Randian philosophy is not the only thing that’s atypical about the band – they’ve made an incredible effort with the release of their music, with every copy of their demo being hand-painted. “That’s how it goes nowadays,” says Red. “Vinyl and cassettes are making a huge comeback and CDs are pretty dead, so the main way to appeal to the real fans is by going for the collector's market. Offer the music for free so dudes and dudettes can listen to it and if they dig it they can get the physical product that has had a lot of care put into it.”
The band’s demo is currently also available for download from www.letitdie.bandcamp.com for £2, although profit is hardly the aim, says Red: “Money is never an issue with this band. If we make any money it just goes straight back into the band for petrol, merchandise or recording so it doesn't really matter. As clichéd as it sounds, DIY is super important to us. It doesn't necessarily mean literally doing everything yourself but supporting homegrown and low-key projects such as promoters, merchandise producers and artists. Doing stuff yourself when in a band is very satisfying, knowing that you produced something from your own hard work and through collaboration with others who work just as hard for the same musical cause, be it hardcore or any other ‘scene’. The peeps on the frontline of our kind of ‘scene’ these days are very accepting of new ideas and things have improved dramatically over the last five years or so.”
The hard work has paid off in that caustic demo. Download it and see, and keep your eys peeled for the band’s next release!

http://www.FaceBook.com/Pages/Let-It-Die/184279738261297