Kyros "Mannequin" (2024)

 

Is this our first heavy hitter? An obvious contender for my album of the year, Kyros deliver on an enticing Esoterica teaser. All three tracks our found nestled snugly among this lively set of exuberant songs bursting with colorful energy. After a quaint, folksy introduction - reminiscent of classic Prog Rock acoustics, the album roars to life with Showtime. Steel drums rapid a melody suggestive of time passing by, in chimes a big aggrandizing tune fondly reminding me of Genesis in the late 80s and one by one the instruments pile in. Grooving baselines, bustling drums patterns and dazzling keyboard leads paint a theatrical thunder birthed in cheese decades ago.

Kyros however, embrace this bold, tenacious execution of punchy note-to-note refrains and execute them with stunning swagger. Each track brings flavor and distinction, their commonality an undying dexterity of craft that fleshes out many sections with animated instrumentation. That's not to suggest the record doesn't have its timely lulls and respites. The balance is wonderful, a fruitful execution of ideas.

Ghosts Of You has become my standout track. Again the 80s reign supreme with big grinning melodies. One could re-imagine this as an ear worming theme song from a daytime television show. Again, executed with class, the lyrical tone and cadence chimes with its punchy percussion reminiscent of Michael Jackson's Bad. Its a common theme for the record but this modern vibrancy invigorates these old themes.

Its final two songs take a subtle departure, focusing on big metallic stunts between more middle of the road arrangements. Although great entertainment, the increased aggressive might, reminds you of a coming end to the session. Not a blemish but observation as that 80s cheese I'm so fond of gets stripped back. This foursome are awsum and I'm not surprised they have pulled together such a strong cohesive album.

Rating: 9/10

Kyros "Esoterica" (2023)

 

Although just a three track single, Esoterica's lengthier twenty minutes make it feel worthy of comment. The music however, certainly perks the ears! Bright, luminous, bold and daring, Kyros take the glory of Progressive instrumentation head on. The wall of sound production and glossy finish celebrates their musical artistry with unrivaled vibrancy on all fronts. Punchy expression and warming hooks feel stacked, complimenting layers of sound, yielding a sonic aesthetic housing ripe song writing.

 Its opening title track infuses and grossing percussive dance floor energy. As one is pulled in by its cruising pace, classic House pianos hit to affirm its inspirations before embarking on a jiving instrumental foray. The cohesion is superb, gears shift as we propel down a musical highway. The following Illusions Inside takes a steadied yet punchy approach with its drums. Slow yet big grooves carefully guiding us into its magnetic climax. The vocal arrive in a crooning swell, masculine and effeminate voices exchange lyrical expressions, harmonizing in a captivating spell.

its ten minute closer, The End In Mind, had less sway over me. In comparison, it didn't quite connect with a focal feature yet the song meanders all over the place like a jam session recurring to a theme on occasion. Its impressive, lots of remarkable dexterous performances yet not quite ticking the memorable box. Good to see this band are in a wonderfully creative place! I wonder if these songs will appear on a record soon.

Rating: 5/10

My Top 10 Music Discoverys In 2022

The relationship with music is changing. Having adopted Spotify, I not only have access to a larger library of music but the whims to pursue sounds at the click of a button. With this, I've found many new acts and novelties I'd of missed out on as a purchaser of records alone. Its been my most "productive" year with this blog, amassing 217 entries. I've also decided its time for a change. In the coming year I want to lower the amount of albums I get stuck into and focus on more of an transient experience, following my fancy and committing to records only when they seem to show something of merit. This means less dissections on music that didn't click, a shift to focus on what resonates deeply. My goal is to make next year the richest reading experience, yet not abundant. As for discoveries, there were plenty to pick from but a group of clear favorites emerged swiftly.

(10) Old Man's Child

Not a discovery but simply a joyous journey over a bands discography from the years of youth exploring Symphonic Black Metal. Revisiting these Old Man's Child record's brought about immense pleasure, unearthing a few new gems too with the albums I didn't fully digest back then. I'll always have a soft spot for Galder's solo project and last I read, we might get a new one in the next year!

(9) Toadies

Although it was the lone record, it left nice to get stuck in with a sound that an older me would have turned a nose at. Their Alternative post-Nirvana sound is not one I am familiar with but the character of these songs and the energy they roll out with struck a vibe. Perhaps one to go a little further with!

(8) Kero Kero Bonito

With quirky pleasures of simplistic expressions and lively instrumentation unabashed by aesthetic, often more musical merit than initial impressions, Kero Kero Bonito made a splash with a style marked by childlike innocence. Their youthful joy and happy energy ran counter to my musical norms yet with an open mind I found a fond connection to uplifting and spirited music, occasionally wrapped in a contrasting twist.

(7) Timewave

Soundtrack to my summer holiday ambience, these lengthy stints of lively Pysbient Downtempo bangers scratched a niche I rarely encounter. Much of the electronic music scene explores vibes and melodic styles that don't resonate with me. This shift to an astral, cosmological focus gave it exactly what I needed. Since discovery, its been a constant throwback when in need of energized focus.

(6) Kyros

One of Spotify's recommendations, something that will dominate the list next year no doubt, is Kyros. Reset/Rewind is still a juggernaut song that I can't get enough of, yet plenty more we to be enjoyed in this Progressive Metal band's discography. They have a distinctive expression and when it comes together, its wondrous yet their output is somewhat mixed. I have no doubts they could pull off something remarkable so anything new will come with giddy speculation!

(5) Tamaryn

With roots in Shoegazing and Cocteau Twins influences, Tamaryn's steady progression over four albums to Synthpop is where the magic lies for me. Each record has matured with Pop sensibilities that resonate strongly. Ditching dreary guitar aesthetics and incorporating bolder, punchier melodies was a delight to behold. If this direction continues, the next installment could be something special!

(4) Dreamstate Logic

Always in search of cosmic ambiences, the discovery of Dreamstate Logic was a blessing. Not only a dense discography of records with a keen focal point on mellow spacey Downtempo drones but a license to use the music commercially. Therefore, it has been a welcome soundtrack to my livestreams, creating a cool, calm atmosphere fit for introspection and astral thought. The pace and temperament is perfect. Plenty of Synth lead lulls that gently swell into drum lead grooves. A pleasure to unearth.

(3) Andrew Odd

Discovering the term Pysbient led me to Andrew Odd, who also operates under the alias Timewave. His distinct approach to melding Psychedelic, Berlin School adjacent synths with cosmic ambience and the steady blooming of Downtempo grooves struck a nerve. Of this genre I have dabbled with through the aforementioned artists, his Random Thoughts record moved me the most. Its energy another to invoke deep focus and relaxation when needed.

(2) Matt Uelmen

Matt Uelmen is no stranger to me, in fact his Diablo II and Starcraft soundtracks have been an eternal source of endearing warmth over the years. Deeply tied to youthful nostalgia, imagine my astonishment when discovering his Torchlight II soundtrack was built of the foundations of that Diablo magic. A gift I have literally dreamed for over the years. Normally reserved for artist discovery, this record had to make the list.

(1) Type O Negative

A name I've known over the years, possibly once encountered directly yet was never taken in by. It took a friend to nudge me into the dreary heartbroken beauty of Type O Negative. Eclectic and estranged, their musical genius stems from the sluggish carved grooves of Black Sabbath and chirpy appeal of The Beatles. Yet these pillars manifest into romanticized Gothic soundtracks, oddly brash and deeply emotive, the expressions of Peter Steele are immortalized in the soaring brilliance their songs offer routinely. Between enigmatic anthems lies an unrestrained creativity, peering into Hardcore energy, metallic sway, Noise aesthetics and Pop Rock sensibilities with a most curious origin. The union of these four men is a blessing, one for the ages. I can only dream of discovering more deep connections again. Type O Negative have touched the peaks of my personal musical landscape. Brilliant.

Kyros "Vox Humana" (2017)

 

Suffering the meaty bloat of a double disk, lengthy escapade, Vox Humana reaches far. Seeking heavens, with spirit and inspiration guiding, this juggernaut weighs upon itself. As a progressive beast, lunging from epic to epic, its diverse aspirations forge wild strings of temperaments and intensities. Reliving the classic tropes of Progressive Rock, flirting with performative theater, a dynamic metallic energy and even shivers of crude Dubstep wobbles on path, a cluster bomb of ideas explode upon the listener.

Individually, lofty, grandiose themes excels, triumphant roars and gratifying peaks are navigated among an arsenal of instruments keen to show their harmony. Collectively, a broad meandering is endured with no ending in sight. Lacking an arc, a sense of overall direction, its climaxes, dramatic twists and turns, roll of the treadmill linked, a free formation running against its own current. At least that has been my experience.

Despite a sense of disorientation stumbling through the hurdles of its musical might, Vox Humana is littered with gratifying sways into exalted emotive swoons. So often do its musky, gentle lulls erupt, illuminated by surging musical powers. The persuasion of momentous riffs, engulfing dancing melodies and all to often, Shelby Warne's voice, assailing all, Kyros land their adventurous ships ashore upon treasured beaches.

On examination, a culprit emerges, its linking elements. Intensity down-turns, drives into obscurity and the general breeziness between storms lacks charm felt elsewhere. Its where meandering looses attention and the swells of excellence are lost in its over ambitious nature. But the ambition is clear, leading to regular contagions of brilliance.

To my mind, Vox Humana sounds out of ears to its audience, a group of musicians exacting their will, uncompromising in their vision. As an observer, indulges into odd and experimental directions frequently break its flow. Clearly excellence is abundant, with many a satisfying moment along the way. Its peaks show this to be true but the journey? A rocky one in terms of holding over interest and attention.

Rating: 7/10

Kyros "Celexa Dreams" (2020)

 

Kyros have delivered fresh magic, a new "song of obsession". The epic ResetRewind gave me pause to go deep with this band. Their bold, unabashed exterior and enthusiastic tone would of been easily glossed over. So with their third album effort, the spins of Celexa Dreams have been numerous. The result? A keen, warm sound carving space where I knew not it could go. With the explorative spirit of Progressive Rock, the punchy, hard hitting instrumentation inches into with metallic territory. The vibes arrive with unshakable echos of performative 80s Synthpop and a subtle sense of VGM influences, perhaps from the likes of a Nobuo Uematsu and his Black Mages.

Built with both lengthy ten minute plus epics and short songs too, the record oozes its instrumentation like a river gushing. As a constant flood of musicality throws big punches, dazzling melodies and harmony, we are never far from the fold. With slapping baselines and big gated reverb percussion every idea is rhythmically powered along by a theatrical momentum. The ever-present synths both sing melodies and gently chime into a glorious wall of sound. The treatment is bright, a constant punchlines permeating as its aesthetics sparkle with a powerful persuasion.

Its clear, crisp, precise and full of character. Unsurprisingly the song structures can reach far beyond convention and on that adventure many exciting arrangements and dynamics are summited. Best of all Shelby Warne frequents these peaks with fantastic vocals. Soaring high, some of the albums best leads are in tandem with dramatic surges of catchy human wordings. The whole affair is a delight, reaching beyond its own moods, Celexa Dreams often steers one into its realm. With every familiar listen I've been sucked in regardless of where I was at before!

Rating: 8/10

Kyros "Four Of Fear" (2020)

 

Home to a new "song of obsession" of mine, this four track EP has night not been quite as enigmatic as ResetRewind, a six minute epic that immediately caught my attention when cycling through Spotify's automated playlists. Kyros are a Progressive Rock/Metal/Synth outfit from London who's sound is a bit "all over the place" and wild, if not unified by its Progressive inspired framework delving mostly in synth tones.

ResetRewind itself is a flawed track, seemingly hinged on its one main music hook, a stellar synth melody dancing in its own gallop. Shelby Warne ascended the mood with a post-apocalyptic uplift, lyrics soaring on natures reclaiming of animal lives, as everyone dies. The song is an odd ball, wedging in a couple Skrillex era Dubstep breakdowns that just about work. It has a few other exercises between its chorus, a sinister vampyric melody in its closing frame is a niche touch. Nothing quite links directly with the main theme and despite its stitched together nature, the song rocks.

The other three songs don't find the same stride. Kyros's temperament is highly involved and dramatic. All ideas and melodies get played up, over performed and aesthetically over emphasized. Quite often this is fun as its backed by terrific, well written melodies. Ace's Middle not so much, its quirky personality shuffles and jitters all over the place with big theatrics that has no foundation. When slowing down for a broody atmosphere epic with Stop Motion. The concept holds back the over animated nature they usually express. Its class is one to revel in as guitar solos make waves.

 My overall impression is one of a band oozing in talent that;s lacking focus and direction. Their sound is a little overdone in multiple dimensions. The music always has a lot going on. What makes it tick is often the simple chemistry between its lead melodies and vocals. I could hear a record producer like Rick Ruben stepping in and stripping out the all the progressive fuss around the core of their songs. That's where the best of this short record is to be heard in my humble opinion.

Rating: 5/10