As soon as "Scapegoat" began coming out of my speakers I knew I was in for a treat, when I plugged in my headphones I knew it was bound to be something special. The sound is enveloping, it grabs you by the ears, forces you to attention, and actually looks for you to become invested in the music.
Static Tensions is not a passive album. Sure, you can toss it on for interesting background music, but that will only last so long. At some point a riff, a chord progression, a vocal yowl, a drum fill, something will get your attention. At this stage you are trapped. It may take one song, or three, or five, but it's bound to happen.
"Scapegoat" grabbed my attention with the opening drums. The two drummers were panned to opposite channels making it an interesting rhythmic experience, especially with headphones. As grabby as that opening song is, it is not until track five, "Running Red," that I become fully aware of their excellence. It opens simply enough with a repeated piano line. It breaks into a seriously heavy slab of sludge metal that is impossible not to groove to.
Simply put, Static Tensions is an album that demands multiple listens. I still have no idea what they are saying most of the time, it is the music that grabs me. The rhythmic possibilities of having two drummers are endless, and some of those riffs are downright diabolical.
Bottomline. Kylesa is a new band that I must add to my radar of acts. There is something deeply infectious about this brand of metal and this album explores new depths of what I like to think of as jam-metal. If you have a love for all things metal, this is an album you do not want to miss.
Highly Recommended.
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