Prior to getting my hands on a copy of Static Tensions, I had never heard of Kylesa, much less their music. That being true, I was unsure what to expect when I first pressed play.
Around the same time, I decided to make use of these new-fangled social technologies, posting on Facebook and Twitter that I was listening to it. Shortly thereafter, friend, fellow BlogCritics writer, and Kylesa fan Jordan Richardson showed some love for the band. This was an encouraging sign. So, there I sat, writing about something or other, Mets game on in the background, liking what I am hearing, it is definitely different. However, it was not until a few days later that I found a better way to listen to Kylesa, and that would be through headphones. Now there is an experience.
I am relatively sure that many of you, like me, are newcomers to the music of Kylesa. So, let's take a look at some of the band's basic information. They hail from Georgia, where they formed in 2001. They sprang from the remnants of a few other acts and evolved over the span of a few years as the lineup changed, one change necessitated by the tragic death of original bass player Brian Duke. The changes also include the addition of a second drummer, I guess to offset the fact they have three members who supply vocals. As for the name? It comes from "kilesa mara," what Buddhist teachings term demons of defilement and delusion. Interesting, no?
But what about the music? In a word: breathtaking. Now, it is not the best I have ever heard, and I do not foresee them topping any of my favorite band-type lists, but man, is the music exhilarating.
Kylesa deliver some purely experimental sludge metal, although I am sure others will toss other genres in the mix. If nothing else, they do go a long way to avoid being pigeon-holed. If I was forced to equate them with a better known act, I would have to go with fellow Georgians' Mastodon. Both bands share a technically proficient style that has jam band-like influences in their open and expansive compositions.
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