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.
Unknown Awareness
Kylesa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tribulations are hanging
Humiliation congeals
Minutes stutter unknown awareness
Nonviolence that is nefarious
Forbidden hunger, age is hunting
Inhumane encounters
Seeds of scorn are planted
Tribulations are hanging
Humiliation congeals
Minutes stutter unknown awareness
In Kylesa's song Unknown Awareness, the lyrics delve deep into themes of oppression and suffering. The song communicates how seeds of disdain and hatred are sown, resulting in tribulations for those caught in its wake. The first two lines of the song paint a picture of suffering and uncertainty. The lyrics suggest that the tribulations that follow from these seeds can cause humiliation to congeal or become more intense, bringing people to their knees.
The next verse speaks of nonviolence that is nefarious, suggesting that even seemingly peaceful actions can have negative consequences. The hunger being described is not just physical hunger but a metaphorical yearning for something. Age is hunting, which can be interpreted as time chasing people down, which could trigger feelings of hopelessness and despair. The inhumane encounters that the lyrics describe might evoke feelings of trauma for the listener. The final line of the verse, "Minutes stutter unknown awareness," could suggest that the victims of the inhumane encounters are not able to fully comprehend or process what is happening to them.
The second chorus repeats the first, with the addition of the phrase, "Hours stretch into darkness." This further emphasizes the weight and length of suffering.
Overall, the song is a haunting portrayal of the interconnectedness of pain, suffering, and oppression. The lyrics suggest that small seeds of disdain can grow into much larger problems, causing people to experience humiliation and trauma beyond their control.
Line by Line Meaning
Seeds of scorn are planted
A negative attitude has been cultivated
Tribulations are hanging
Challenges and difficulties are looming over
Humiliation congeals
The feeling of shame and embarrassment solidifies
Minutes stutter unknown awareness
The passing of time is hindered by a lack of understanding
Nonviolence that is nefarious
Peaceful actions that actually cause harm
Forbidden hunger, age is hunting
An unattainable desire is being pursued and time is running out
Inhumane encounters
Cruel and unjust meetings
Minutes stutter unknown awareness
The passing of time is hindered by a lack of understanding
Seeds of scorn are planted
A negative attitude has been cultivated
Tribulations are hanging
Challenges and difficulties are looming over
Humiliation congeals
The feeling of shame and embarrassment solidifies
Minutes stutter unknown awareness
The passing of time is hindered by a lack of understanding
Contributed by Mackenzie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Margaret Anomie
this is true masterpiece
NAR
I saw them open for Clutch last night, holy fuck. Great band live, two drummers work perfectly together, the guy singers voice is fucking hypnotic live, and i didn't even know there was a chick in the band until the concert haha. One of the best opening bands i've seen.
Asarelah
This song is beautiful. I love the guitars.
Devin Siegel
omg! how have i just discovered this band tonight!? I love this
AllForRockNRoll
@jloo222 to me it sounds very unique and psychedelic. for a metal band to sound trippy is an achievement in itself. dont put down kylesa, they r amazing...
KwakKwakArmada
so good !! I juste discovered the band today...I'd immediately ordered the album !!!
AH92
i didn't like this band before but now iv give um a proper listen there awesome
William Kampen
Love the lyrics!
Blackraptor
love this song. it sounds even better if im listening to it when im stoned
Carlos Geissendoerfer
luv it lol