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.
Tired Climb
Kylesa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Free from thought,
Walking backwards
Tranquil anxiety
Refraining from
Walking backwards
Reverse and rewind
Moving forward
Regrets indicate,
moving forth is
Walking backwards
We tread a long time
On occasion, on the line
Swaying, weighing
Straying from this tired climb
Keyed up, all tore up
Free from thought,
Walking backwards
Tranquil anxiety
Refraining from
Walking backwards
Reverse and rewind
Contemplate
Moving forward
Regrets indicate,
moving forth is
Walking backwards
We tread a long time
On occasion, on the line
Swaying, weighing
Straying from this tired climb
The lyrics to Kylesa's song Tired Climb explore the idea of being stuck in a cycle of negativity and feeling like it's impossible to move forward. The opening lines describe feeling "keyed up" and "tore up", which could indicate some sort of anxiety or nervousness. This feeling leads the singer to walk backwards, potentially trying to escape or avoid the issue at hand. However, the singer also notes that there's something almost calming about this backwards motion - "tranquil anxiety" - which is a unique and interesting phrase.
The chorus addresses the idea of reversing and rewinding - essentially, getting caught up in thoughts of the past and not being able to move forward. The singer recognizes that these regrets are holding them back and keeping them from progressing, almost as if moving forward is the same as walking backwards. The use of the phrase "tired climb" in the final lines of the song speaks to this feeling of exhaustion and being stuck in the same patterns over and over again.
Overall, Tired Climb is a relatable song for anyone who has felt trapped by their own negative thoughts or past experiences. The backwards motion of the lyrics is an interesting metaphor that adds depth to the song and makes it more thought-provoking.
Line by Line Meaning
Keyed up, all tore up
Feeling intense emotions that are causing discomfort or distress
Free from thought,
Existing in a mental state without conscious thinking
Walking backwards
Moving in reverse, possibly representing a lack of progress or growth
Tranquil anxiety
A feeling of calm or peace despite experiencing anxiety or stress
Refraining from
Choosing not to participate in an action or behavior
Walking backwards
Continuing to move in a direction that may not be beneficial or productive
Reverse and rewind
Reflecting on past actions or experiences
Contemplate
To consider or reflect on something deeply
Moving forward
Making progress or taking action towards a goal or objective
Regrets indicate,
Feeling remorse or disappointment about past actions or decisions
moving forth is
Continuing to take steps towards progress and growth
Walking backwards
Staying stagnant or regressing instead of moving forward
We tread a long time
We have been working or struggling for a significant amount of time
On occasion, on the line
Occasionally teetering on the edge between success and failure
Swaying, weighing
Being conflicted or uncertain about a decision or action
Straying from this tired climb
Taking a break or stepping away from the exhausting struggle towards progress
Contributed by Emily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@reverendjimjones1043
Keyed up, all tore up
Free from thought, walking backwards
Tranquil anxiety
Refraining from walking backwards
Reverse and rewind
Contemplate moving forward
Regrets indicate, moving forth is walking backwards
We tread a long time
On occasion, on the line
Swaying, weighing
Straying from this tired climb
@BenHarrisProductions
9 years on and its still just as fantastic as when i first heard it.
@reverendjimjones1043
Keyed up, all tore up
Free from thought, walking backwards
Tranquil anxiety
Refraining from walking backwards
Reverse and rewind
Contemplate moving forward
Regrets indicate, moving forth is walking backwards
We tread a long time
On occasion, on the line
Swaying, weighing
Straying from this tired climb
@VJelectro
It's astonishing, how well they pull off the whole "two drummers" thing!
@BennyWitchfinder
simply amazing, i really like this band a lot, i always have since the beginning!thumbs up!
@JHM123
Busting out the ear plugs tonight for Kylesa and their damn double drums.
@kevandalzell7906
Best song of 2010, from the best album, of that year, too!!!!
@kevandalzell7906
Though, best song? Off this album? Why do I lie....?!?!
@Lazzie_the_Psilocybe_Deity
This song IS the hype
@Hordes_Of_Nebulah
Saw them last night in asheville \m/
@MusicIsLove2812
I fucking hate that I didn't know about this band! Oh well, better late than never :D They're deadly! So happy I found them!