Out 19 September, 2025
Via Sumerian Records
Words by: CECILIA PATTISON-LEVI
In the year 1995 a London, Ontario, Canadian all female heavy metal band named Kittie burst onto the metal scene like a Molotov cocktail. In the year 2000, Kittie released their seminal debut album Spit. It’s hard to believe that 25 years has past, and it has been 30 years since Kittie began as a band. Music critics and fans are still talking about Spit and it was a fabulous and important record to women in music: especially metal and heavy rock music.
In celebration, Kittie have made their new Extended Player (EP) Spit XXV that reimagines four tracks from their iconic debut album. The four songs Spit XXV, Do You Think I’m A Whore, Brackish and Charlotte have been re-recorded with modern production by legendary producer Garth Richardson. The EP is like a bridge between Kittie’s past recordings to their future.
The sound of the EP is cleaner, harder and sharper. The vocals are pushed up in the mix. The title track Spit XXV from its first crushing guitar chord, shows the song’s raw power. Morgan Lander’s vocals have gained layers of tone and controlled aggression. The rhythm section of Mercedes Lander and Ivy Jenkins delivers a thunderous drum and bassline foundation that feels both familiar and refreshingly modern.
The next song Do You Think I’m A Whore? has subtly changed its intent and Kittie’s maturity shines. Where the original has a primal scream of adolescent rage, this new version channels that feminine fury that age brings and shows through the lens of the band’s experience. The song’s inherent power remains intact, but there is a precision to the delivery that speaks to a band that has spent decades of honing their craft. Tara McLeod’s guitar work is wonderful as her riffs weave through the composition.
The song Brackish as track 3 is an interesting inclusion. This song benefits the most from the new recording and production. Brackish was always one of Kittie’s most dynamic song writing compositions. The quiet-loud dynamics that made the original so compelling are amplified in this new version. The EP closes out with Charlotte and its vocal melody that sounds strange and otherworldly. It is song that feels haunted in the big bassline riffs and floating vocals. The new version sounds more lived-in and powerful: the gift of age that brings emotional resonance.
Kittie is certainly on a roll. It’s great that the band have decided to revisit and reimagine these songs. It builds on the Kittie’s successful return with their fantastic touring performances and the release of their new album Fire.
Spit XXV is a lot of fun and a true testament to Kittie’s longevity.
