On April 28, 2016, the band announced in Facebook post that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus, stating, "We have collectively decided to take a hiatus with no set date to reconvene.
Kylesa is a metal group that borrows elements of hardcore punk, psychedelic rock, stoner rock, sludge metal, and speed metal. They have two singers, Phillip and Laura. Kylesa formed in Savannah in 2001, taking their name from "kilesa mara", a Buddhist term denoting delusory mental states.
Guitarist and singer Phillip Cope, bassist Brian Duke and drummer Christian Depken were former members of the Savannah sludge metal act Damad, which had released two albums in the '90s. Philip Cope has been described as the Savannah "metal scene's godfather." He began playing in hardcore punk groups in the late 1980s, and in 1992 booked groups such as Buzzoven and Neurosis at a local all-ages club. From 1993 to 2001, Cope played in the group Damad. Pat Mathis of the Passive Fist label said that Damad "established a sound that's stuck-- that whole heavy, doomy Southern kind of metal. When you've got these old punk guys who listen to the Allman Brothers and start a metal band, that's kind of what you get." Damad changed their name to Kylesa in 2001 with the addition of Laura Pleasants, a native of North Carolina who attended the Savannah College of Art and Design.
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 Redmond stepped in and played bass). The self-titled record was released about one year later on Prank Records when artwork by Pushead was completed. Prior to the full LP, a single limited 7" was released on Prank also with Pushead art. The Pushead-designed Band Logo from these releases has been used on all the band's merchandise and releases ever since.
Replacing Duke with bassist and singer Corey Barhorst, the band wrote and recorded a split 7" with Memento Mori, on Hyperrealist, and a split full length with Cream Abdul Babar from Florida, on At A Loss Recordings. These records came out immediately following the release on Prank, although they were recorded much later, The long wait for artwork by Pushead delaying the release of the S/T LP. 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 independent 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. Eric Hernandez replaced Porter and appears on Static Tensions, released in 2009. Two songs on this album were inspired by the shooting of Jason Statts, a Savannah musician. They toured with Mastodon after the release of this album, whose guitarist, Bill Kelliher, said that “ We took Kylesa on tour because we love those guys and have been hanging out with them for years. They blew a lot of people's expectations out of the water.”
Journalist David Peisner of Spin described them as "dark psych-metal titans," practicing an "aggressive [sound], but with a hazy, stoner vibe that suggests a strange amalgamation of Black Sabbath, Black Flag, and early Pink Floyd." As of 2010, they have sold 75,000 albums. In 2010 they signed to the Season of Mist records label to release the album Spiral Shadow on October 26 that year. A rarities compilation album titled From the Vaults, Vol. 1 was released later that year.
Their sixth album, Ultraviolet, was released through Season of Mist in May 2013. The record is said to be darker lyrically and sonically than previous works, containing more vocals from singer/guitarist Laura Pleasants. The band embarked on a full North America headlining tour to promote the release with direct support from Blood Ceremony, White Hills and Lazer Wulf. In October 2015, the group released their seventh album Exhausting Fire through Season of Mist.
Long Gone
Kylesa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sounding reflection or a mirage
You've lost yourself
Trusted relation with trepidation
What were you thinking when you stole the sun
We have been broken in darkness unspoken
Your tears are flying a purchased disguise
What you see clearly right here before me
You've lost yourself
The lyrics to Kylesa's song "Long Gone" explores the themes of self-discovery, betrayal and the loss of oneself. The first verse of the song brings up the concept of not being able to discern between reality and perception, as if what is in front of us could be a reflection or an illusion. The second verse delves into the feeling of betrayal, the loss of trust in a previously held relationship and the question of motive when one has "stolen the sun". The chorus repeats the first verse, emphasizing the feeling of being lost or disconnected from oneself. The last line of the chorus is particularly poignant, as it suggests that when we lose a part of ourselves, it is difficult to regain it.
The song seems to be exploring the idea of digging deep within oneself to find answers to the questions that arise in difficult situations. It is a call to take responsibility for our actions and to face the consequences of our decisions. The repeated use of "what you see clearly" and "you've lost yourself" is a reminder to stay grounded and true to oneself, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
What you see clearly right here before me
The singer is presenting something tangible to the listener.
Sounding reflection or a mirage
The singer is questioning whether what they are seeing is real or an illusion.
You've lost yourself
The singer believes that the listener has lost their identity, purpose or sense of self.
Trusted relation with trepidation
The artist is expressing fear and uncertainty towards someone they trusted before.
What were you thinking when you stole the sun
The artist is questioning why the listener would do something so bold and ridiculous.
We have been broken in darkness unspoken
The singer and the listener have been damaged emotionally and mentally in a way that they cannot express verbally.
Your tears are flying a purchased disguise
The singer believes that the listener's sadness or regret is not genuine and is just a facade they purchased to portray emotion.
What you see clearly right here before me
The artist is still presenting something tangible to the listener.
Sounding reflection or a mirage
The artist is still unsure whether what they are seeing is real or an illusion.
You've lost yourself
The artist still believes that the listener has lost their identity, purpose or sense of self.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ali Al-Rawahi
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