Right from the opening thunderous drums, down-tuned guitars and strained vocals of "Scapegoat", Kylesa's Static Tensions hits the ground at warp speed and never looks back. Through 9 more tracks, this disc, the band's 4th full-length studio release, unleashes a barrage of riff-driven old school metal, with just the right amounts of psychedelic spices and balls-to-the-wall energy to balance things out beautifully.
The band claims to have learned from previous mistakes and feels they're a more cohesive unit than when they first started out. The point of this latest release, according to guitarist/vocalist Phillip Cope was to write memorable riffs: "you can write a guitar line or a vocal line that stays with you, instead of going in one ear and out the other. I wanted to write a record that had a lasting impression". Has he succeeded? I'd like to venture that yes, he has. The tracks are all fairly straight forward, filled with infectious grooves and solid hooks. The psychedelic touches mentioned above (and prevalent primarily in the excellent "Unknown Awareness" ) take a little of the rawness away from the music, but without seeming like a wimpy cop out. The powerful drumming, courtesy of a pair of drummers (Carl McGinley and Eric Hernandez), anchor the music solidly. The vocals, although a little lost in the mix, still evoke angst and anger, without resorting to over-the-top screeching or "Cookie Monster" growls. And of course, the twin-axe aural assault of Cope and Pleasants, serves up some fist-pumping riffage of the highest order.
Nothing new under the sun here, but fans of down-tuned, stoner-like metal will want to pick this one up. It rarely delves into the very slow, sludgy fare; but instead relies on mid-tempo heaviness to kick the listener in the teeth. I found myself immediately liking this one, and repeated listens have, as Cope hoped, left a lasting impression.
Track Listing:
- Scapegoat
- Insomnia For Months
- Said And Done
- Unknown Awareness
- Running Red
- Nature's Predators
- Almost Lost
- Only One
- Perception
- To Walk Alone
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