The Killer And The Star

What began as a solo endeavor from Scooter Ward, frontman for the Jacksonville post-grunge wailers Cold, the Killer and the Star pursues a more symphonic and tuneful brand of alternative rock than his longstanding group. Often treated with playful Auto-Tune effects, Ward’s voice rises smoothly across layered arrangements rooted in piano power pop and accented by goth hooks. He first conceived the venture in 2006 under the name the Witch, later adopting the Killer and the Star as its official title before enlisting a touring lineup that featured percussionist Rocky Gray (formerly of Evanescence) and bassist Michael Harris of Idiot Pilot. Issued in July 2009, the self-titled debut was produced by Ross Robinson, who had previously handled the boards on Cold’s first album.