IN REVIEW: Kyng - "Breathe in the Water"

For their third album, Kyng have enlisted Machine, producer of some of Clutch's best work in addition to many others. The result is a batch of tunes that have a thicker sound than previous record Burn the Serum, but also a sharper focus on melody. While there isn't anything quite as purely sticky as Electric Halo (my choice for best heavy song of 2014), Breathe in the Water is overall a much more melodic affair. It's all held together by Eddie Veliz, who not only displays his prowess on guitar but also gives a masterful vocal performance that compliments these songs regardless of what the music calls for. Breathe in the Water is diverse, encompassing aggressive metal, Sabbath-inspired groove, dark blues, and even some Alice in Chains-like hard grunge, among other styles; the feat Kyng pulls off here is sounding natural at all of them. Breathe in the Water is a varied and satisfying record for the present while laying a very large blueprint for their future endeavours.

October 7, 2016 • Razor & Tie
Highlights Closer To the End • Show Me Your Love • Bipolar Schemes

Comments

Year in Rock 2025

Alright, I've got some explaining to do. By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but: a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...

Year in Rock 2014: And the Winners Are...

It's been a long year, and another great one for rock n' roll. While the pop charts were overrun with barely legals obsessed with their asses, rock soldiered on undeterred even as pundits (hell, in some cases even rockers themselves) mourned the genre. Sure, rock didn't dominate the money game in 2014, but that shouldn't evoke sad nostalgia and eulogies. Even for as little perceived impact rock music made, a hell of a lot happened if people had only paid attention. From grizzled vets adding jewels to their crown (Springsteen, Petty) to new beginnings (Against Me!, Antemasque) to happy returns (Faith No More, The Tea Party) and all points in between, rock continued to thrive, evolve and thrill in 2014. Enough talk. It's winning time. Your Year in Rock winners for 2014 are...

Hear Me Out: Why Do A Greatest Hits Album?

So, Silversun Pickups announced a "singles collection" today. Now, I'm no expert on "singles" or "hits" compilations; even so, I've got to say this announcement threw me for a loop for a couple of reasons. For starters, isn't it a bit early for a band like Silversun Pickups to be given the "greatest hits" treatment? I know, I know, it's a "singles collection". But, come on; it looks like a greatest hits album, it smells like a greatest hits album, so on so forth. More importantly, though, are these really necessary entities in 2014? I mean, who is this album for? Casual fans who've already downloaded the singles they like or established fans who are expected to shill out $15 for one new song?

SOUND BITES

Search This Blog