UMUR "Killing the Pain" is an EP release by US thrash metal/alternative metal act Fear of God. The EP was released through Bethany Records in 1995. It´s the successor to "Toxic Voodoo" from 1994 and it was the band´s last release before the untimely death of lead vocalist Dawn Crosby, who passed away in December 1996 as a consequence of her long struggles with alcohol abuse, effectively ending Fear of God.

The three tracks on the 14:11 minutes long EP are a strange, heavy, and murky sounding type of thrash metal (the instrumental part of the music is sometimes close to death metal territory). Crosby talks, moans, and screams her way through the songs (often buried low in the mix), while the band play a near chaotic and busy heavy style of music. The murky sounding production job doesn´t exactly help with bringing clarity to the soundscape. On one hand the raw and savage sound of the music is refreshing and very authentic, but on the other hand it´s not always a pleasant listening experience. The toms on the drumkit for example sound pretty horrible.

"Killing the Pain" is the least accessible release by Fear of God and it´s definitely their most raw release too. Who knows what a possible subsequent album release would have sounded like, but I suspect the band would have made something even more grim and vicious sounding. Even when the band is most melodic on a track like "Mourning Light", Crosby´s off-key vocals and rather original desperate delivery make it sound like the end of the world is near. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.