Kylesa
is a metal band from Savannah, Georgia whose music is difficult to classify, as it incorporates avant-garde experimentalism with relentlessly sludgy riffs, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was formed in 2001 by the former members of Damad with the addition of guitar player Laura Pleasants. The band has since undergone a few line up changes and the core remaining original members are Phillip Cope and Laura Pleasants. In 2006, the band added two drummers (Carl McGinley of the Savannah band Unpersons and Jeff Porter). Eric Hernandez (of the Miami band Capsule) joined in 2008 to replace Porter and is on the band's latest record STATIC TENSIONS. The dual drum tracks are often panned strongly to the right and left, respectively, and create a complex rhythmic ambience.
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KYLESA TICKETS
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Biography
Kylesa is, fundamentally, a metal group, but the Savannah, GA-based outfit is otherwise difficult to categorize: elements of hardcore punk, psychedelic stoner rock, technical speed metal, and good old-fashioned Black Sabbath sludge appear in their music. Also, with a front line consisting of three very different singers instead of a single focal point, Kylesa has a musical variety lacking from many of their more monochromatic peers. Kylesa formed in Savannah in 2001, taking their unusual name from "
kilesa mara", a Buddhist term denoting altered mental states of delusion.
Guitarist and singer Phillip Cope, bassist Brian Duke and drummer Christian Depken were former members of the Savannah sludgecore act
Damad, which had released two albums in the '90s; the original lineup was completed with the addition of guitarist and singer Laura Pleasants. After recording the majority of their first record (S/T on Prank) in May 2001, Kylesa played their first show with Mastodon and Cream Abdul Babar in Savannah, Georgia on June 2, 2001. On June 6, 2001, Brian Duke died from an epileptic seizure during the course of the night. The band decided to finish the recording in Brian's honor, wrote and recorded two more songs (where local bass player and friend Michael Redman stepped in and played bass). The self titled record was released about one year later on Prank Records with artwork by Pushead. Prior to the full LP, a single limited 7" was released on Prank also with Pushead art.
Replacing Duke with bassist and singer Corey Barhorst, the band wrote and recorded a split 7" with Memento Mori (on Hyperrealist) and did a split full length with Cream Abdul Babar from Florida (on At A Loss Recordings). These records came out right after the S/T on Prank even though much time had passed since the first Kylesa recording session. More singles and a placeholder EP, 2004's No Ending 110 Degree Heat Index, followed right before Depken left the group.
Kylesa signed with the indie metal label Prosthetic Records and released their second proper album, "To Walk a Middle Course", in 2005 with drummer Brandon Baltzley.
Following the release of that album, Baltzley left the group, replaced by a pair of drummers, Jeff Porter and Carl McGinley. Kylesa's third album, Time Will Fuse Its Worth, was released on Halloween 2006, followed by Static Tensions in 2009. Eric Hernandez replaced Porter and is on Static Tensions.
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Band members
;Current
- Phillip Cope – vocals, guitars (2001–present)
- Laura Pleasants – vocals, guitars (2001–present)
- Corey Barhorst – bass, vocals (2002–present)
- Carl McGinley – drums, percussion (2006–present)
- Eric Hernandez – drums, percussion (2008–present)
;Former
- Brian Duke – bass, vocals (2001)
- Christian Depken – drums, percussion (2001–2004)
- Brandon Baltzley – drums, percussion (2004–2005)
- Jeff Porter – drums, percussion (2006–2008)
;Session/live
- Michael Redman – bass (on Kylesa
)
- Javier Villegas – bass (on Static Tensions
)
Discography
;Studio albums
- 2002: Kylesa
- 2005: To Walk a Middle Course
- 2006: Time Will Fuse Its Worth
- 2009: Static Tensions
;EPs
- 2002: Point of Stillness 7"
- 2004: No Ending/110 Heat Index
- 2006: Skeletal
- 2009: Unknown Awareness
;Splits
- 2002: Split with Memento Mori
- 2003: Split with Cream Abdul Babar
- 2009: Split with Victims
Name Meaning
Kylesa takes their name from "kilesa mara," what Buddhist teachings term demons of defilement and delusion.
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References
- http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Kylesa/Biography/
- http://www.thefilter.com/Music/82680-Kylesa