Kylesa

Kylesa was formed in 2001 by members of the sweetheart band Damad, which released two albums in the 90s: singing guitarist Philip Cope, bassist Brian Duke and Christian Depken (drums). Soon they were joined by guitarist Laura Pleants, who had arrived in Savannah ten years before, to study photography and design. Unlike Cope (who dropped out at the same art college), she received her diploma, worked for a while in her specialty, and later participated in the design of Kylesa releases ^[2] .

At first, the group gave semi-legal concerts, gathering spectators in the basement, where it exceeded all permissible noise exposure standards and relying largely on the psychedelic effect of the situation. “In those days, we went onstage stoned, didn’t understand anything and didn’t always understand how and how to play” ^[2] , ”Cope recalled.

Kylesa gave their first official concert on June 2, 2001 with Mastodon and Cream Abdul Babar . June 6, 2001 Duke died in a dream from an epileptic seizure. Cope recalled:

Six months later, convincing itself that this would be Duke’s wish, the group gathered again, inviting to participate - first the familiar musician Michael Redman, then the permanent bass player (and vocalist) Corey Barhorst. A year after starting work on it, Kylesa's debut album was released on Prank Records. Kylesa recorded two splits with Corey Barkhorst: Memento Mori (on Hyperrealist Records) and Cream Abdul Babar (on At A Loss Recordings). After the release of EP No Ending 110 Degree Heat Index (2004), Depken left the roster.

Kylesa signed a contract with independent metal label Prosthetic Records, where they released their second album, To Walk a Middle Course (2005), with new drummer Brandon Baltzley. Almost immediately, Bolzley left the group. In 2006, two drummers came to Kylesa, Carl McGingley from Unpersons and Jeff Porter. With them, Kylesa recorded their third album, Time Will Fuse Its Worth , which was released on Halloween 2006. In 2008, Porter was replaced by Eric Hernandez (of Capsule) ^[3] .

Shock Tandem

According to Kerrang! , "... in the cohort of superheavy American groups Kylesa stand out with the feminine presence of Pleasants, alternating otherworldly screams with angelic vocals, as well as a rhythm section with two drummers ... At the same time, Cope and Pleasant are convinced that the tandem of percussion is the future of heavy rock" ^[2] . “This idea came from the very beginning ... We decided to push the boundaries of heavy music this way,” says Pleants. “It’s not easy to find two drummers who would play. We are not the first group to do this, but the first to do it practically. I think this is something that is gaining strength and will soon become widespread” ^[2] , ”said Brian Cope .

Static Tensions

The fourth album, Static Tensions , was released in March 2009 and received high marks from music critics. According to Cope, the album as a whole is “about changes for the better,” and not only in public life (associated with the victory of Barack Obama) but also on the metal scene, where “... everything has changed dramatically, and no one can now say to what will all this come to ^[2] .

Philip Cope noted that the album was recorded "in a state of almost clear reason and ... did not smoke anything green, neither before nor in the process." “Of course we have such a reputation, but that does not mean that we sit all day and smoke grass. Of course, she supports all of us (with the exception of the rhythm section) ... simply because we all grew up on it and led this lifestyle for a long time ” ^[2] , Laura Pleants noted in this (same) interview.

Kerrang !, the magazine rated 4/5, wrote the following:

In this riff-filled cocktail of oiled stoner-rock tunes, doom / sludge groove and psychedelic free-outs, moments of splendor are visible everywhere, and they prove: this is the same stellar album that Kylesa has been promised to create for so long. Energetic and depressive at the same time, sometimes switching from one extreme to the other within a few seconds, this is the sound of crazy scientists: among those who conduct their experiments in the form of night jam sessions.

Original text

A riff-happy cocktail of fuzzy stoner-rock melodies, doom-laden sludge grooves and psychedelic freak-outs, there are moments of brilliance at almost every turn, suggesting that this is indeed the genuinely stellar album Kylesa have long been threatening to make. Upbeat and downtrodden in equal measure - often switching between the two in the space of a few seconds - these are the sounds of the demented scientists, namely those who carry out their experiments by means of late night jam sessions.

- Ryan Bird, Kerrang !, March 7, 2009 ^[6]

The reviewer noted the 6-minute track “Running Red” as “best summarizing the essence of the album,” and mentioned Fu Manchu and The Sword among the closest benchmarks for comparison.

• Phillip Cope - vocals, guitar (since 2001)
• Laura Pleasants - vocals, guitar (since 2001)
• Corey Barhorst - bass, vocals (since 2002)
• Carl McGinley - drums, percussion (since 2006)
• Eric Hernandez - Percussion, Percussion (since 2008)

Former members

• Brian Duke - bass, vocals (2001)
• Christian Depken - Drums (2001-2004)
• Brandon Baltzley - drums (2004-2005)
• Jeff Porter - Drums (2006-2008)

Studio Albums

• 2002: Kylesa
• 2005: To Walk a Middle Course
• 2006: Time Will Fuse Its Worth
• 2009: Static Tensions
• 2010: Spiral Shadow
• 2013: Ultraviolet
• 2015: Exhausting Fire

Mini Albums

• 2002: Point of Stillness 7 "
• 2004: No Ending / 110 Heat Index
• 2006: Skeletal
• 2009: Unknown Awareness

Splits

• 2002: with Memento Mori
• 2003: with Cream Abdul Babar

• Kylesa: Anthem magazine (inaccessible link)
• Kylesa at Loudside.com
• Article Stomp and Stammer
• Where the Horizon Unfolds , Kylesa, 2006