Great continuation of their previous outing.

This is most definitely the best album that Kylesa has released thus far. There is more musical variation in Spiral Shadow, and at times, the band employs impressive progressive elements surprisingly well. Although it is evident that Kylesa cites its musical influence from bands like Baroness and Mastodon, on Spiral Shadow, Kylesa truly stamps a unique name for itself. Strong 8.7/10.

Does anyone else get a My Bloody Valentine feeling on this album?

Good stuff, but after only one listen I think I slightly prefer their previous release.

Written by Dangerboner on 30.10.2010 at 21:51

Does anyone else get a My Bloody Valentine feeling on this album?

Good stuff, but after only one listen I think I slightly prefer their previous release.

I agree slightly on the My Bloody Valentine bit. Cannot exactly pinpoint why though.
After the first listen I thought their previous was better as well, but now I am on my second spin and it suddenly sounded way better

"Don't Look Back" sounds a lot like a heavier version of Smashing Pumpkin's "Today"...

Definitely more so than their other albums, Spiral Shadow has a sort of '90s throwback sound of raw energy with a In Utero-esque quirky catchiness to it. It's not the kind of music that I typically listen to, but I find myself wanting to keep putting it back in the stereo and push play. There's a nostalgic vibe to it that takes me back to a smoky club in Portland as a teenager, back when there was still an underground scene making its rounds through the Pacific Northwest.

Meh...There's a nice 90s vibe to it and half a dozen decent to amazing songs. Not as much variety or "meatiness" to a lot of the songs, compared to other bands like Kyuss. DUST is the song that sounds like "Today" by the Smashing Pumpkins, btw.
I just wish I could be more enthusiastic about it. If only they had spent more time and made more higher-quality tracks...because most of what they have is interesting, to say the very least.

Written by [user id=100467] on 13.12.2010 at 20:12

...Not as much variety or "meatiness" to a lot of the songs, compared to other bands like Kyuss.

But then again they play a different sort of metal than Kyuss.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 13.12.2010 at 20:26

Written by [user id=100467] on 13.12.2010 at 20:12

...Not as much variety or "meatiness" to a lot of the songs, compared to other bands like Kyuss.

But then again they play a different sort of metal than Kyuss.

Well, no doubt they are going to be different. They are generally described as "stoner-prog", not "sludge metal" as Metal Storm claims. That being said, I hear a lot of Kyuss to their sound. Maybe it would be inappropriate to mention them in the same thread...
Kylesa do have a fundamental problem in my opinion: there's hardly anything riveting for the listener when everything sounds the same and there are few interesting movements. Some of their songs are just brilliant (Dust, Forsaken, etc.), but it's less apparent because it all kind of blurs together. And by no means is this a concept album where I'm OK with such songs blurring together. Maybe new instruments, more interesting songwriting or more interesting interludes might set this album apart from their peers... Better luck next time, Kylesa.

Oh, and I get a real Sonic Youth vibe off it as well. Pleasants sounds like Kim Gordon at times to a point where it is just eerie. Problem: Sonic Youth did these kind of vocals A LOT BETTER. The vocals lack "oomph" to me.
That being said, I've listened to it again and I've revised my rating to an 8.

That was not great but that was good for kylesa

Such a good album, cheating synergy is easily the stand out track

Finally I learned to appreciate this album. Amazing!

That is definitely my favorite kylesa... I like their approach on this one, I hope their next release will be similar to this release ! Its quite unique
it redefines their name a little if you ask me. And They finally have a touch of their own. The progressive parts are inspired and I love that.

Written by Guib on 14.08.2012 at 07:54

That is definitely my favorite kylesa... I like their approach on this one, I hope their next release will be similar to this release ! Its quite unique
it redefines their name a little if you ask me. And They finally have a touch of their own. The progressive parts are inspired and I love that.

100% true

I've not heard Kylesa much until today. This record is miles ahead of the two albums after this. Shame to see they've lost it.

Possibly even better than Static Tensions, absolutely quality record. Although I'm not particularly fond of Back And Forth

Edit: Can't believe it took me so long to discover this band - this album in particular is an early favourite of mine. Aside from the effective vocals and the multitude of great riffs and guitar leads, I love how percussive this album is. Two drummers and tom-heavy metal drumming are both big favourites of mine when done well, when combined effectively here with other neat drumming tricks (the alternating rapid hi-hat/drumstick sounds sections on the title track and similar events), just so good. Tired Climb is a great opener and Don't Look Back is very hooky, but the title track is legitimately awesome, probably about as good as music in this style can get.

This is such a fantastic record, much better than the seemingly higher acclaimed previous release Static Tensions imo, which in itself is a very impressive album. Seems like a lot of variety and dynamic structures in this one, it has all the heavy groovy ass chunky riffs, and ultra stylish drumming of the previous, but there's regular tempo changes that keeps you in your toes, and some cool psychedelic Far-Eastern moments.