Ultraviolet (Kylesa album)

Last updated

Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet.jpg
Album cover artwork by Sean Beaudry
Studio album by
Kylesa
ReleasedMay 24, 2013 (Europe)
May 28, 2013 (US)
RecordedOctober 2012 – December 2012
StudioThe Jam Room
Columbia, South Carolina
Genre Stoner rock, sludge metal, biker metal, [1] psychedelic rock
Length38:50
Label Season of Mist (CD, vinyl, digital)
SOM275
Producer Phillip Cope
Kylesa chronology
From the Vaults, Vol. 1
(2010)		Ultraviolet
(2013)		 Exhausting Fire
(2015)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 78/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The A.V. Club (B+) [5]
Consequence of Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
CraveOnline Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Decibel Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Exclaim! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Loudwire Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Metal Storm (8.0/10) [11]
Metalsucks Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Outburn (9/10) [13]
Paste (8.7/10) [14]
Pitchfork (7.0/10) [15]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Punknews.orgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Slant Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Spin (7/10) [19]

Ultraviolet is the sixth full-length studio album by American sludge metal band Kylesa. It is the group's third album to be released through Season of Mist.

Contents

Writing and recording

Writing for Ultraviolet was done periodically throughout the span of two years, unlike previous albums which were written and recorded during shorter periods of time. [20] In an interview with Echoes and Dust, Philip Cope stated it was the first time he played the theremin a lot for an album, as well as incorporating instruments such as synthesizers and a skateboard guitar for the recording. [20] According to Cope in an interview with HEAVY, "The biggest difference with Ultraviolet is that everybody now pretty much plays multiple instruments and we let everybody do what they want. Nobody has a particular role; no one has to play just guitar or just drums." [21] It was also noted that Cope took on more of a "director" role during the recording process, with Laura Pleasants contributing more vocals compared to previous efforts. [22] [23]

Theme

Speaking with Bearded Gentlemen Music, Cope stated that the album cover was done by Sean Beaundry. Explaining the imagery of the scarab beetle, Cope stated "I thought that it fit pretty well with this album, you know, just kinda look at it as scarabs basically being dung beetles that make things out of shit." continuing, "We kinda had a huge pile and we're making an album out of it. There's other symbolism like that on there as well." [23]

The album title "Ultraviolet" is a reference to reaching for the intangible, towards something we know is there, but cannot see. [24] In an interview with eMusic, Cope explains, "I wouldn't be doing what I do now if I wasn't reaching for something more — even if I don't know exactly what that is." [24]

Promotion and release

The group released three tracks from Ultraviolet: "Quicksand", "Vulture's Landing" and "We're Taking This", prior to the album's release. Eventually, the album was made available for streaming in its entirety through Metal Hammer. [25] It was ultimately released on May 24, 2013, in Europe and on May 28, 2013, in North America in CD, vinyl and digital download formats through Season of Mist. [26] A coinciding North American headlining tour with Blood Ceremony, White Hills, and Lazer/Wulf from May 28 to June 22, 2013, in support of the release was scheduled as well. [27]

Reception

The aggregate review site Metacritic assigned an average score of 78 out of 100 to the album based on 19 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [2]

Praising the album as one of the group's strongest efforts, Gregory Heaney of AllMusic remarked, "With such a layered and melodic sound, Ultraviolet represents a further refinement of the new direction they've been heading in, making it not only the band's most accessible work to date, but also their most purposefully written and solidly constructed, putting it in the running for the best album of their career." [4] In regards to the band drawing more from their various influences, Sammy O'Hagar of Metalsucks commented, "Kylesa have never been shy about the fact that they're a multi-headed beast, but Ultraviolet may be the truest expression of the wildly varying nature of the band's personality thus far." [12] CraveOnline's Iann Robinson lauded the effort as an "acid trip", stating, "Ultraviolet is the inside of the Monolith, the theme in God's mind's eye and a commanding, visceral record that invites us to think, feel and experience the music all at once." [7] At Outburn , Jeff Treppel called this "possibly the best release yet from a consistently great band, but then, that's the case with every new album they put out." [13]

In a somewhat mixed response, Pitchfork's Grayson Currin expressed, "Ultraviolet rarely feels singular or confident; it's the sound of a band attempting to underline its claims to distinction." He continued, "But when Kylesa allows those extrinsic factors to emphasize their momentum rather than detract from it, they are unstoppable..." [15]

On the day of the album's release, Stereogum named the record their "album of the week". [28]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Exhale"3:02
2."Unspoken"4:47
3."Grounded"3:13
4."We're Taking This"2:41
5."Long Gone"3:26
6."What Does It Take"2:04
7."Steady Breakdown"4:48
8."Low Tide"3:35
9."Vulture's Landing"3:15
10."Quicksand"2:34
11."Drifting"5:25
Total length:38:50

Personnel

Ultraviolet album personnel adapted from the CD liner notes. [29]

Kylesa

Guest musicians

Production

Album artwork

Charts

ChartPeak
position
Billboard 200 [30] 173
Billboard Hard Rock Albums [30] 14
Billboard Heatseeker Albums [30] 4

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enslaved (band)</span> Norwegian extreme metal band

Enslaved is a Norwegian extreme metal band formed by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson in Haugesund in 1991. They are currently based in Bergen. The band's lineup has changed many times over the years, and Bjørnson and Kjellson have been the sole constant members. The current lineup also includes lead guitarist Arve Isdal, keyboardist/singer Håkon Vinje, and drummer Iver Sandøy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High on Fire</span> American metal band

High on Fire is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, also plays guitar for Sleep. High on Fire won the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance with their song "Electric Messiah". The band has released nine studio albums, with their newest, Cometh the Storm, released in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boris (band)</span> Japanese experimental band

Boris is a Japanese band that draws variously from styles such as sludge metal, drone, noise, psychedelia, and minimalism. Formed in 1992 in Tokyo, the band is composed of drummer Atsuo, guitarist/bassist Takeshi, and guitarist/keyboardist Wata. All three members sing. Boris has released more than 20 studio albums on various labels around the world, as well as a variety of live albums, compilations, EPs, singles, and collaborative albums. They have collaborated with acts such as Sunn O))), Merzbow, Keiji Haino, and guitarist Michio Kurihara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylesa</span> American heavy metal band

Kylesa is an American sludge metal band that was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their music incorporates experimentalism with heavy riffs, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was established in 2001 by the former members of Damad, with the addition of guitar player Laura Pleasants who is from North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torche (band)</span> American stoner metal band

Torche was an American stoner metal/sludge metal band from Miami, Florida. The group formed in 2004 and has released five full-length studio albums, four EPs, two split albums, and three singles. They released their fifth and final full-length studio album, Admission, in 2019.

<i>Red Album</i> (Baroness album) 2007 studio album by Baroness

Red Album is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Baroness. It was released in 2007 by Relapse Records.

<i>Vertebrae</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Enslaved

Vertebrae is the tenth studio album by Norwegian extreme metal band Enslaved. It was released on 29 September 2008 by Indie Recordings in Europe and on 28 October 2008 by Nuclear Blast in the US, Enslaved's first album on both labels. It was named as Album of the Year by Terrorizer and was awarded the Norwegian "Spellemannprisen" for best metal album. The album sold approximately 1,100 copies in its first week in the United States, reaching number 49 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.

<i>Static Tensions</i> 2009 studio album by Kylesa

Static Tensions is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Kylesa, released on March 17, 2009, by Prosthetic Records. The artwork and layout was created by John Dyer Baizley of the band Baroness. Like its predecessor, Time Will Fuse Its Worth (2006), the record features two drummers.

<i>Time Will Fuse Its Worth</i> 2006 studio album by Kylesa

Time Will Fuse Its Worth is the third full-length album by American sludge metal band Kylesa. It was released October 30, 2006 by Prosthetic Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Tusk (band)</span> American sludge metal band

Black Tusk is an American sludge metal band from Savannah, Georgia, that has been active since 2005.

<i>Spiral Shadow</i> 2010 studio album by Kylesa

Spiral Shadow is the fifth full-length album by American sludge metal band Kylesa, released by Season of Mist on October 25, 2010 in Europe and October 26, 2010 in the United States.

<i>To Walk a Middle Course</i> 2005 studio album by Kylesa

To Walk a Middle Course is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Kylesa. Released on March 22, 2005, by Prosthetic Records, it was produced by English record producer Alex Newport, who is known for his projects Fudge Tunnel and Nailbomb.

<i>Eternal Turn of the Wheel</i> 2012 studio album by Drudkh

Eternal Turn of the Wheel is the ninth studio album by Ukrainian black metal band Drudkh, released on February 24, 2012, through Season of Mist's Underground Activists label.

<i>Meir</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Kvelertak

Meir is the second studio album by Norwegian heavy metal band Kvelertak. It was released on 25 March 2013 via Sony Music Scandinavia in Scandinavia, Roadrunner Records in the rest of the world, and by Indie Recordings on vinyl. The album was produced by Kurt Ballou.

<i>From the Vaults, Vol. 1</i> 2012 compilation album by Kylesa

From the Vaults, Vol. 1 is a compilation album by American sludge metal band Kylesa, collecting previously unreleased tracks, alternate versions of released tracks and one new track. It was released on November 16, 2012 in Europe and November 20, 2012 in North America through Season of Mist. The collection features a newly recorded track titled "End Truth" as well as a cover of Pink Floyd's "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" and Buzzoven's "Drained".

<i>Satanic Blood</i> 2012 studio album by Von

Satanic Blood is the full-length debut album by American black metal band Von. It was released on October 31, 2012 via the band's own label, Von Records.

<i>Esoteric Warfare</i> 2014 studio album by Mayhem

Esoteric Warfare is the fifth full-length studio album by Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. It was released by Season of Mist on 6 June 2014 in Europe and Asia, and on 10 June 2014 in North America. It is the band's first album with Teloch on guitar since Blasphemer's departure from the band in 2008.

<i>Savage Gold</i> 2014 studio album by Tombs

Savage Gold is the third studio album from American metal band Tombs. It marks the groups first record to feature contributions from guitarist Garett Bussanick and bassist Ben Brand, as well as the first record to be produced by Erik Rutan.

<i>Exhausting Fire</i> 2015 studio album by Kylesa

Exhausting Fire is the seventh full-length studio album by American sludge metal band Kylesa. It is the group's fourth album to be released through Season of Mist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archspire</span> Canadian technical death metal band

Archspire is a Canadian technical death metal band from Vancouver. They have released four studio albums and are currently signed to Season of Mist.

References

  1. ↑ WISE, LAUREN. "The 21 Best Heavy Metal Albums of 2013". Phoenix New Times . Retrieved September 23, 2018. Georgia's pretty damn good at producing great stoner sludge metal: In addition to Mastodon and Baroness there's Kylesa, who fuses basement punk and biker metal on Ultraviolet.
  2. 1 2 "Critic Reviews for Ultraviolet – Metacritic". Metacritic . Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  3. ↑ Gregory Heaney (May 22, 2013). "Kylesa – Ultraviolet Review". About.com . Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Tom Campagna (May 27, 2013). "Kylesa – Ultraviolet". AllMusic . Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  5. ↑ Jason Heller (May 28, 2013). "Kylesa – Ultraviolet". A.V. Club. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  6. ↑ Jon Hadusek (May 21, 2013). "Album Review: Kylesa – Ultraviolet". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Iann Robinson (April 18, 2013). "Review: Kylesa's 'Ultraviolet' is a Full-Fledged Acid Trip". CraveOnline . Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  8. ↑ Begrand, Adrien (June 2013). "Kylesa, Ultraviolet". Decibel . 104: 98.
  9. ↑ Natalie Zina Walschots (May 24, 2013). "Kylesa – Ultraviolet". Exclaim! . Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  10. ↑ Graham 'Gruhamed' Hartmann (May 30, 2013). "Kylesa – Ultraviolet". Loudwire . Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  11. ↑ BoxCar Willy (May 24, 2013). "Kylesa – Ultraviolet review". Metal Storm . Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  12. 1 2 Sammy O'Hagar (April 10, 2013). "Kylesa's Ultraviolet: Light My Way". Metalsucks . Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  13. 1 2 Treppel, Jeff (2013). "Kylesa: Ultraviolet (Season of Mist)". Outburn . June/July 2013 (69). Octavia Laird and Rodney Kusano: 62. ISSN   1542-1309. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  14. ↑ Jason Ferguson (May 28, 2013). "Kylesa: Ultraviolet". Paste . Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  15. 1 2 Currin, Grayson (May 30, 2013). "Kylesa: Ultraviolet | Album Reviews". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  16. ↑ Dean Brown (June 3, 2013). "Kylesa: Ultraviolet". PopMatters . Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  17. ↑ thepopeofchili-town (May 28, 2013). "Kylesa – Ultraviolet". Punknews.org. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  18. ↑ Jordan Mainzer (May 24, 2013). "Slant review". Slant Magazine . Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  19. ↑ Kory Grow (May 30, 2013). "Kylesa, 'Ultraviolet'". Spin . Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  20. 1 2 Sander (May 2013). "Interview: Phillip Cope from Kylesa". Echoes And Dust. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  21. ↑ Damo (May 9, 2013). "Kylesa's Philip Cope Interview". HEAVY Magazine. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  22. ↑ BuickMckane (May 28, 2013). "Kylesa In The Ultraviolet Light". Metal Underground.com. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  23. 1 2 Phil Maye (May 15, 2013). "Interview: Phil Cope of Kylesa". Bearded Gentlemen Music. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  24. 1 2 J. Edward Keyes (March 28, 2013). "Interview: Kylesa". eMusic . Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  25. ↑ Merlin (May 17, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: Hear New Kylesa Album 'Ultravoilet' Right Here". Metal Hammer . Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  26. ↑ "KYLESA To Release 'Ultraviolet' In May". Blabbermouth. February 26, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  27. ↑ Chris Coplan (March 28, 2013). "Kylesa announce North American tour dates". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  28. ↑ Tom Breihan (May 28, 2013). "Album Of The Week: Kylesa Ultraviolet". Stereogum . Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  29. ↑ Ultaviolet (CD liner). Kylesa. Seasons of Mist. 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. 1 2 3 Ultraviolet – Kylesa Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.