Kylesa flexes its head to the new noise and there’s probably no other band out there right now that more effectively fuses metal’s expansionary plans, the amplification of stoner rock and the attitude of punk. Though this Georgia collective’s back catalogue is already viewed in high esteem by those in the know, Kylesa has impressively outdone itself with Static Tensions, the band crafting what is its defining work to this point; the seemingly impossible upgrade is surely the byproduct of the group honing its sound and allowing its sometimes extraneous elements fall by the swampside. Case in point: record opener ‘Scapegoat’ is by far the most straight-forward we’ve ever heard Kylesa, and it suits the band well as the song has quickly become one of my favorites of ‘09 and, I’m not exaggerating, probably one of the top record opening moments of the last five years. ‘Scapegoat’ drips attitude and swagger, and Kylesa has a sick statement of purpose on its hands. Elsewhere, ‘Unknown Awareness’ is the possessor of an amazingly ethereal vibe, and the epic lead line that graces the track is reminiscent of that cool little Valis record that came out in and around ‘02 that still gets played around these parts: that’s a testament to ‘Unknown Awareness’’ potential staying power, no doubt. ‘Perception’ is interesting as well, the song’s initial riff-o-rama eventually morphing into a supercharged, punked-up rush that just barely makes it to the flailing finish line. As for the two drummers thing (yes, Kylesa has two separate kits going)… it’s mostly neither here nor there on the album but, from time to time, there is a Sepultura/Roots kind of tribal vibe to the percussion, though don’t let that description fool you into thinking there’s anything nu about Static Tensions. Static Tensions is an effort that has taken Kylesa to new artistic heights, the band now one of the main arbiters of underground cool.
