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Kylesa - Ultraviolet review




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Reviewer:
8.0

110 users:
7.62
Band: Kylesa
Album: Ultraviolet
Release date: May 2013


01. Exhale
02. Unspoken
03. Grounded
04. We're Taking This
05. Long Gone
06. What Does It Take
07. Steady Breakdown
08. Low Tide
09. Vulture's Landing
10. Quicksand
11. Drifting

Totally Groovy maaaaaaaaan.

That pretty much sums up Kylesa's Ultraviolet. In a world of generic and boring sludge bands that rely on the same rolling and rolling riffs that are overused again and again, Kylesa manages to do something totally off the beaten path. Be (somewhat) original.

This is good. Take your standard Savannah sludge release, and add a nice dose of acid. Boom, you've got Ultraviolet. The standard heavy-hitting, downtuned riffs that everyone loves are still as present as ever, the "air-drum on your van's steering wheel" drum fills and punk influenced beats are still in the mix. The "pleasantly" gruff female voice of Laura Pleasants* is still a charging force in the sound. So, by now you're probably wondering where the "(somewhat) original" comes in.

WELL I'll TELL YA WHAT.

The originality in this record comes from a whole batch of new things added to the sludge stew; the main ingredient being the new heavy dose of psychedelic and ambient sounds. These new effects and sound waves add much more texture to the basic Plain Jane sludge format we're so used to hearing over and over again. They add more jam and more gusto in the heavier sections, and they fill gaps in the quiet, slower sections. Another new addition is that of the electronic effects. These are another definite plus in my books. Providing much of the same effect as the psychedelic riffs, but perhaps not as filling, the new sounds add something? well, new to the mix. Instead of being boring and normal, Kylesa have really stepped their game up, and have created a really enjoyable sludge/psyche album. Kudos to 'em.

*If you don't like this pun you can F.O.A.D because it's brilliant.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 8
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Production: 8

Written by Boxcar Willy | 24.05.2013




Comments

Comments: 6   Visited by: 225 users
24.05.2013 - 10:27
Spirit Molecule
spirit molecule
I love the fact that they keep using Laura's voice more and more every record. She reminds me off Sera Timms in parts.
The pleasantly gruff sounding female voice could be Philip actually. But there are parts where Laura does the screams as well.
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24.05.2013 - 12:48
Rating: 8
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
You own Craig for that pun, you copycat.
Oh, and the album is the tits. I'll have it for mah wedding!
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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24.05.2013 - 13:29
Rating: 8
BloodTears
ANA-thema
Written by X-Ray Rod on 24.05.2013 at 12:48

Oh, and the album is the tits. I'll have it for mah wedding!


I hope I'm invited I'm really liking this album, those riffs man... the riffs! This band always tries something new, keeps it fresh and it sounds like Kylesa. Pretty impressive.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29

Like you could kiss my ass.


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24.05.2013 - 13:44
Rating: 6
Draugen

I have never heard anything by the band before but judging by this review it may very well be something I would enjoy. I will give this album a shot.
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24.05.2013 - 13:57
Rating: 8
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by BloodTears on 24.05.2013 at 13:29
I hope I'm invited I'm really liking this album, those riffs man... the riffs! This band always tries something new, keeps it fresh and it sounds like Kylesa. Pretty impressive.

You'll be in the very first line, dear.

Also, love the darker sound... I like those rare moments when bands say "this will be a darker album" and actually do just that.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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25.05.2013 - 03:00
Nosurper
Stinky Lips
I remember hearing a few singles off of this record and hearing some shoegazey moments. Can't wait for it to come through the mail.
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