Black Like Sunday
KingsX
(Metal Blade)
When most bands go into their chest of old recordings and re-record old unreleased material, it is interesting but mostly cack. When KingsX do it, the result is one of their best albums in years. Some of the material here is from before the band even existed. There is something pretty impressive in the fact this material has never even been released. It demonstrates clearly why KingsX has always been considered a muso band. While occasionally producing material that might have broader appeal, like 'Over my Head', most of their material is not the easiest to get into. All of it, even their most recent stuff, is worth it, given the time. This trio are some of the most impressive rock musicians around and come across like a more muso version of Rush. This is an excellent CD from an excellent band. It should sell bundles, but it wonít. KingsX are the perpetual best kept secret of the hard rock world.
Rating: 4
Article comments
1 - mike
I saw them open for Dream Theatre, which I went with a friend as a favor, since this is not my type of music. I was blown away by how good King's X was, and how sad that they have to open for much less talented bands (I thought Dream Theatre was total bombast), and that few people in the audience appreciated them. Truly it is a cold, heartless world.
2 - Tom Johnson
I'm definitely going to have to voice the dissenting opinion on this one - this album is one big stinking pile of turd. I've never had such an incredible let down by a band, and often, when let down, I find that I eventually really enjoy the album because I had preconceived notions that drifted away after several times through. The only preconceived notions I had about this album was that it would be at least decent. Boy was I wrong - this is some of the lamest, cheesiest hair-band metal to slip out of the coma it was thankfully put into by Nirvana in 1991. This album is just embarassingly bad. There's a reason they left stuff like "Rock Pile" behind - because it's amateurish crap.
Man, sorry Marty, I really enjoy your posts, but this is one album that I have to help warn people away from. Chalk it up to the love/hate division in metal between what happened between 1986-91 and what happened afterwards and before that . . . (which is what I prefer, obviously.)
3 - Natalie
I can't speak for this new LP (haven't heard it -- YET), but gotta say ditto to the praises given to King's X. Whatta band! Whatta sound! Whatta message!
I love these guys.
4 - Sean Hackbarth
"Black Like Sunday" is much, much better than "Manic Moonlight" but they just don't seem to have that spark. "Johnny" is killer, but few of the other songs left anything lasting.
And can someone explain who's bright idea it was not to number the songs on the back of the CD? When I listen to in in my car, I have to guess what song is playing.