Kinghorn consists of renaissance men. This has not only been evident through their impressive, texture rich work in the short while they’ve been together, but the history they’ve had. Brandon Whalen & Aaron Blanchard created this group with integral support from Nick Jones. They’ve all been in bands earlier, and united as a trio collective. This is their debut self titled album, Kinghorn.
It is easy to classify a band into a genre and watch it work. It’s what all critics like me do, while knowing either nothing or very little about composing itself. Kinghorn are taking their first steps, hence they’ve to be mammoths. With the task of cementing their legacy, the songs they have write themselves as heavy prog-sludge tracks with the intense grooves that Mastodon themselves have mastered. Kinghorn wear the same tread below their shoes, yet take a new trail.
Down the sludge trail
Now Is All We Had is the opening track. With melodic rhythms that ring out, Kinghorn let the groove settle before approaching the valley with all guns blazing. The booming drums and great production makes sure that the strained vocal quality & rhythm section contrast each other with clarity.
An ominous beginning with the hallowed riff of 1:30Am. This dark riff is counterbalanced with some rhythm heavy bass, carrying a great melody. Something teachable Kinghorn do is space out the riff before the rest of the instruments follow. There is no muddle, and hence you build with the songs intensity. A great melodic track. The breakdowns are designed to keep you asking for more.
Engage in Riff Raff
Black Sea is the where the intro is king. Dominated by the catchy riff that reminds me of King’s X’s Ty Tabor. It quickly switches into a sludge paradise with the vocals sounding like Troy Sanders’ in many ways. One of their best songs in this album, with the right buildup and intense crushing breakdown and closing. Sadless decides to use the created momentum from Black Sea to establish the dominance of this prog universe. The quick pace changes and assimilation of the riff make it an energetic number by performance and vocal display.
I Am Now is a melodic buildup with progressing ambient sounds and the begrudging sound of the guitar. The drums enter only by the second minute, really processing the meditative remnant of the song. Death Secrets is the consequent track, building from the ashes of the previous track. Once again, riff is king as it takes a unanimously dark path of bleeding guitar rhythms and appetizing melodies. The transmission between the created sounds is great, making it more of a prog song than any other.
Pariah takes the dread of Sabbath and translates it to Kinghorns signature edge sound. As the instruments blend into one another and the drums take lead ever so often, the vocals demand attention due to the stark difference. The decibels really make a mark on your mind, a crafty adventure worth witnessing.
Track evolution
Drugs is the song that closes out this album. Using one note riffs, these breathe for a much longer time. I have witnessed this style with a French prog-metal outfit called Alcest, who depended on this for much of their effect. As Kinghorn experiment with this in one track, it is interesting to hear a much more melody focused approach. The track is a testament to their ever evolving style and mastery of the effect they like to create. Their album has been mastered to an astonishing level of detail, though I know I’m missing more due to streaming.
Kinghorn have set a benchmark for themselves. Listen to their album here:
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Discovered via http://musosoup.com
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Self professed metalhead, moderately well read. If the music has soul, it's whole to me. The fact that my bio could have ended on a rhyme and doesn't should tell you a lot about my personality.
