Kayleth - New Babylon (Album Review)

Release Date: May 24th 2024. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Impression: Tracklisting

1.The Throne - 03:31
2.The night - 05:24
3.The Giant's march - 06:56
4.Weak heart - 05:13
5.Megalodon - 04:21
6.New Babylon's wall - 05:03
7.We are aliens - 02:46
8.Cyber slaves - 05:19
9.Pyramids - 03:37

Review

Kayleth have always focused upon the more outlandish and spaced out style of Stoner Metal especially with their last two albums of 2020 Back To Earth and Colossus that has seen both those albums become highly regarded within the underground community. Though my favourite album of theirs is the classic 2015 release - Space Muffin.

However, Kayleth have released their most OTT and OUT THERE record to date with New Babylon. Look at the album cover with Astronauts riding Dinosaurs battling UFOs in the background.

The album is still classic STONER METAL through and through with Kayleth inspired by the legendary bands of the scene such as KYUSS, Monster Magnet and FU MANCHU. However, Kayleth are now starting to develop their original FUZZED UP and Progressive mix of Stoner Metal with even more fuzzier guitars and psychedelic loops appearing within the opening tracks of The Throne, The Night and The Giant’s March.

Kayleth play a distorted style of music compared to their last two albums with the record having a Post-Doom attitude appearing with the Psychedelic Sludgy Guitars that the band play with determined focus. The band did a little experimentation on their last album which they do even further on New Babylon.

So be prepared for different SONIC rhythms and passages which may take you out of your comfort zone. Though, everything is still contained within a vortex of thrilling Stoner Metal grooves, heavy Psychedelic and first rate Ambient sounds which gives Kayleth a lot more creative ground to play for the outlandish story they’ve written for this album.

New Babylon is more cinematic on the later stages of the record starting with the epic sounding tracks of Weak Heart, Megalodon and New Babylon’s Wall allowing Kayleth to venture further into the Space Rock abyss with the constant Progressive Rock aggression perhaps grabbing all the creative headlines to impress listeners with.

The final tracks of the album sees Kayleth wrapping up the story to a highly satisfactory conclusion with the neverending style of Psychedelic Stoner Metal guitar passages becoming more forceful and intense on tracks We Are Aliens, Cyber Slaves and Pyramids. If you’re expecting Kayleth to play a more hopeful style of Stoner Rock/Metal then I’m happy to say that won’t happen at all. As you can hear, Kayleth is inspired by MOTORHEAD in places especially within the faster and sludgier parts of the record.

New Babylon ranks next to Space Muffin as Kayleth’s best album for me and one that contains some of their best grooves of their career to date.

Sublime. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.

New Babylon is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

KAYLETH - 2020 Back To Earth (Album Review) And Video Premiere For THE DAWN OF RESURRECTION

Release date: May 8^th 2020. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/VInyl

2020 Back To Earth – Tracklisting

01. Corrupted

02. Concrete

03. Lost in the Canyons

04. The Dawn of Resurrection

05. Delta Pavonis

06. By Your Side

07. Electron

08. The Avalanche

09. Sirens

10. Cosmic Thunder

Members

Massimo Dalla Valle - Guitar

Alessandro Zanetti - Bass

Daniele Pedrollo - Drums

Enrico Gastaldo - Vocals

Michele Montanari - Synths

Review

2020 Back To Earth is the new album from Psych/Space/Stoner Rockers – KAYLETH – and follows their 2018 offering Colossus. KAYLETH seem to have a rich stride of form over the last few years with their last album and with their new offering as well. KAYLETH are a super-tight unit who play out of this world Cosmic Spaced Out Stoner Rock with a Doom Metal atmosphere being more present compared to previous albums.

The band add new elements to their music with this album and it’s perhaps their most daring and bold album to date. The music offers a wild style of Progressive Stoner Rock with the Doom Metal vibes never to far away. The album does have a fast-paced approach with KAYLETH always in a hurry to play the next heavy groove and the album is packed full of those moments.

The first few songs – Corrupted, Concrete and Lost In The Canyons – see the band build up a steady rhythm of Progressive grooves and ideas with a mighty soulful vibe being added. The album maybe set in 2020 but the album also offers a classic style of Stoner Rock/Metal with influences such as KYUSS and Monster Magnet never to far behind. The lyrics are way OVER THE TOP which what you would expect from an album such as this.

Though I will admit the band almost lost me when the Saxophone appeared on Lost In The Canyons. As I’ve never been a fan of that instrument or it’s use in the realm of Doom/Stoner Metal but I will admit they’re used superbly well here and especially with the Cosmic Sounding Synths coming from Michele who excels himself throughout the album. The Saxophone gives the album an almost Jazz based feel and it does take time getting used to.

From here on in, KAYLETH continue playing Psychedelic Stoner Rock sounds that have quite an addictive quality to it. The music is still fast-paced and you may need to take a rest to take everything in with the band playing a wide array of different styles.

With 10 songs on the album, KAYLETH will have something for everyone to enjoy on this album. The second half of the album is perhaps stronger than the first half. As that’s where I feel personally the best parts of the album are. Heavier sounds and more inventive ideas that left me wanting more.

Standout songs include: By Your Side, Electron, Sirens and Cosmic Thunder.

KAYLETH have released a different sounding record to COLOSSUS but one that is quintessentially KAYLETH through and through.

Overall, 2020 Back To Earth is a superbly entertaining album from start to finish and it’s great to have the guys back doing what they do best.

Words by Steve Howe

You can watch the new video for their The Dawn Of Resurrection from their new album.

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for all the info.

2020 Back To Earth is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl from Argonauta Records.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Kayleth - Colossus (Album Review)

Release date: January 12th 2018. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD

Colossus – Tracklisting

Lost in the swamp

Forgive

Ignorant Song

Colossus

So Distant

Mankind’s Glory

The Spectator

Solitude

Pitchy Mantra

The Angry Man

The Escape

Oracle

Members

Massimo Dalla Valle: Guitar

Alessandro Zanetti: Bass

Daniele Pedrollo: Drums

Enrico Gastaldo: Vocals

Michele Montanari: Synth

Review

Italian Psych Stoner Rockers - Kayleth - return with their new album - Colossus. Almost three years have passed since their last album - Space Muffin. This had a very cool sounding re-release courtesy of Argonauta Records. Colossus sees Kayleth play the same style of Psychedelic Space/Stoner Rock sound that was heard on Space Muffin. Kayleth have added a heavier progressive sound from their last album.

Opening track - Lost In The Swamp - has a Kyuss/Dozer style Desert Rock drive but buried under some fantastic sounding Psychedelic Spaced Out riffs. The music is very modern though the Kyuss style rhythms bring a slightly nuanced vintage feel. The vocals from Enrico are clear and match the heavy progressive riffs superbly well. Kayleth have a more dynamic presence on this album compared to their previous releases.

Second song - Forgive - has an eerie early Truckfighters sound but Kayleth soon drift away from that style of music for a more direct progressive grunge/stoner rock sound with the psychedelic noises giving a more experimental feel. The music is played fast and loose at times but that allows Kayleth to focus on creating a heavier FUZZ rock sound. The music is quite addictive though maybe a tad too long at times. You better get used to that feeling as this album runs for about an hour and there are twelve songs held on the album. That's a minor complaint for such a hugely entertaining and brilliantly constructed album. It's too Kayleth's credit that they keep the whole mood of the album lively, fresh and energetic.

Third song - Ignorant Song - has a more serious vibe compared to the other songs on the album with the lyrics having a more personal feel. Though the psychedelic fuzz/stoner sounds still retain their sense of urgency and heaviness.

The next track is perhaps the best song on the album, which happens to be the title track - Colossus. A heavy hitting song that has the classic Space Rock energy of early Monster Magnet driving the heavy rhythms home and leave you wanting more. Later stages of the album has Kayleth starting to play heavier riffs but with a more dynamic flair on songs such as The Spectator, Solitude, Pitchy Mantra, The Angry Man and Oracle.

Kayleth know how to write a good riff. Sure the lyrics maybe OTT but what do you expect with a Spaced Out Stoner Rock album such as this. I also enjoyed Kayleth's use of synths and electronic noises on this record. It adds another spaced out dimension to their heavy sound. This is a much better sounding album compared to Space Muffin and that's perhaps down to the fantastic sounding production held within the album.

Colossus has a deeply rich use of Science Fiction running through its veins and it's hard not to be impressed by the subtle use of Science Fiction themes spliced throughout their music. Colossus is an album you should genuinely be excited about. It's an album that has a lot to say and that's not surprising with the many different musical elements Kayleth have included here on Colossus.

If you want an epic sounding album that has the Stoner Rock brilliance of Kyuss/Dozer and the hard edged Fuzz Rock greatness of Truckfighters, then look no further.

Colossus is ready to take you on an epic ride into the cosmos.....

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Barbara at NeeCee Agency for the promo. Colossus will be available to buy on CD/DD via Argonauta Records from Jan 12^th 2018.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp