KILLWHITNEYDEAD

"Never Good Enough for You" and "So Pretty, So Plastic" are brilliant blends of grindcore and thrash with ripping solos that incorporate the now omnipresent movie samples as part of the arrangements, rather than as mere garnishment. Musical plaudits aside, the most intriguing quality of KILLWHITNEYDEAD was the mystery surrounding the group. Mystery musicians, including TRIBUNAL head honcho and lead vocalist Matt Rudzinski (band name: M KWD),a made-up home base in Flagstaff, Arizona, and quickly built cult following added to the band's mystique. Originally conceived as a studio-only project, Rudzinski soon saw the potential of taking the act out on the road to quench the thirst of the diehard fans. Coupled with striking artwork, not the least of which included a bloody nude model presenting her ripped out heart to the camera on "Never Good Enough for You", KILLWHITNEYDEAD turned from neat idea into heavy music phenomenon. On "Scene of the Crime", Rudzinski tells the KWD story in a 60-minute documentary portion. It is everything you ever wanted to know about KILLWHITNEYDEAD.

Though the DVD also includes numerous live performance clips, a full "raw" live set, interviews with other band members, music videos, and an interview with cover girl Mollie Romine, the centerpiece is the interview with Rudzinski. In it, Matt talks about the inspiration for the band, the reasons behind keeping his identity secret (it's pretty obvious if you think about it),the making of each of the albums, and the ultimate decision to take the show on the road. It is a well-done interview that is interspersed with KWD music and live shots. The conceptual basis for the KWD project is often as interesting as discussions of the music itself. The attention to detail that went into the artwork and design, as well as the preparation by the cover models themselves, attests to the seriousness with which Rudzinksi takes the project.

There is no question that "Scene of the Crime" is a finely crafted DVD. The only "problem" I have with it is that it will be worth little to anyone but diehard fans of the band. Sure, it's a very interesting story, but I cannot for the life of me imagine watching it again, now that I have broadened my horizons with the KWD story. Buy it if you're a big fan. Otherwise, you can probably gain just as much information on KWD by surfing the Net. That's not a slam on the DVD; it is just an acknowledgement of its limited potential for repeat viewing.