Kylesa

Quality 0.50 · 1 view · Updated 2 months ago

American heavy metal band

title: "Kylesa" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-sludge-metal-musical-groups", "heavy-metal-musical-groups-from-georgia-(u.s.-state)", "musical-groups-established-in-2001", "musical-groups-disestablished-in-2016", "musical-groups-reestablished-in-2024", "american-musical-quintets", "american-stoner-rock-musical-groups", "season-of-mist-artists", "musical-groups-from-savannah,-georgia", "mixed-gender-bands", "female-fronted-musical-groups"] description: "American heavy metal band" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kylesa" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American heavy metal band ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

FieldValue
nameKylesa
imageKylesa_-_Roskilde_Festival_2011.jpg
captionKylesa performing at Roskilde Festival 2011
image_upright1.25
backgroundgroup_or_band
originSavannah, Georgia, U.S.
genre{{flatlist
years_active
label{{flatlist
*Heavy Psych Sounds{{cite weburl
website
current_membersPhillip Cope
Laura Pleasants
John John Jesse
Roy Mayorga
past_membersChristian Depken
Brian Duke
Corey Barhorst
Brandon Baltzley
Carl McGinley
Jeff Porter
Tyler Newberry
Eric Hernandez
Javier Villegas
Chase Rudseal
::

| name = Kylesa | image = Kylesa_-_Roskilde_Festival_2011.jpg | caption = Kylesa performing at Roskilde Festival 2011 | image_upright = 1.25 | background = group_or_band | origin = Savannah, Georgia, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist|

  • Sludge metal
  • stoner metal | years_active = | label = {{flatlist|
  • Season of Mist
  • Prosthetic
  • Havoc
  • Prank
  • 20 Buck Spin
  • La Familia
  • Alternative Tentacles
  • Retro Futurist
  • Heavy Psych Sounds | associated_acts = | website = | current_members = Phillip Cope Laura Pleasants John John Jesse Roy Mayorga | past_members = Christian Depken Brian Duke Corey Barhorst Brandon Baltzley Carl McGinley Jeff Porter Tyler Newberry Eric Hernandez Javier Villegas Chase Rudseal}}

Kylesa is an American sludge metal band that was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their music incorporates experimentalism with heavy riffs, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was established in 2001 by the former members of Damad, with the addition of guitar player Laura Pleasants who is from North Carolina.

The band has since undergone lineup changes; the remaining original members are Phillip Cope and Laura Pleasants. In 2006, the band added two drummers, Carl McGinley and Jeff Porter. Eric Hernandez joined in 2008 to replace Porter. In April 2016, the band announced that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus. On August 20, 2024 Roadburn Festival announced Kylesa's first reunion show at their 2025 edition, followed by announcements from ArcTanGent Festival in the UK, Inferno Fest in Norway, and A Colossal Weekend in Denmark.

History

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". 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 (self-titled Kylesa on Prank Records) in May 2001, the band 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 his 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 when artwork by Pushead was completed. Prior to the full LP, a single limited 7-inch was released on Prank Records, also using artwork by Pushead. 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-inch 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 despite being recorded much later, due to the long wait for artwork by Pushead delaying the release of the self-titled 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, Carl McGinley (of Unpersons) and Jeff Porter. Kylesa's third album, Time Will Fuse Its Worth, was released on Halloween 2006. Eric Hernandez (of Capsule) 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 ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Kylesa_grillen_26012014.jpg" caption="Kylesa in 2014"] ::

As of 2010, Kylesa had sold 75,000 albums. In 2010, they signed with Season of Mist 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.

In April 2016, the band announced in a Facebook post that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus.

In August 2024, the band announced they had returned from their hiatus and announced they would perform at the 2025 Roadburn Festival.

Musical style

Kylesa is most often classified as sludge and stoner metal. The band has two lead vocalists, Phillip Cope and Laura Pleasants. Beginning in 2006, Kylesa employed two drummers; the dual drum tracks are often panned strongly to the right and left.

AllMusic stated that the band borrows "elements of hardcore punk, psychedelic stoner rock, technical speed metal, and good old-fashioned Black Sabbath sludge." Journalist David Peisner of Spin described Kylesa 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."

Band members

Current members

  • Phillip Cope – vocals, guitars, samples (2001–2016, 2024–present)
  • Laura Pleasants – vocals, guitars (2001–2016, 2024–present)
  • John John Jesse – bass (2024–present)
  • Roy Mayorga – drums (2024–present)

Former members

  • Christian Depken – drums, percussion (2001–2004)
  • Brian Duke – bass, vocals (2001; died 2001)
  • Corey Barhorst – bass, vocals (2001–2007, 2008–2011)
  • Brandon Baltzley – drums, percussion (2004–2005)
  • Carl McGinley – drums, percussion, keys, samples (2006–2016)
  • Jeff Porter – drums, percussion (2006–2007)
  • Tyler Newberry – drums, percussion (2007, 2010–2013)
  • Eric Hernandez –drums, percussion (2008–2009, 2013–2015), Bass (2013)
  • Javier Villegas – bass (2008–2009)
  • Chase Rudeseal – bass (2012–2015)

Live musicians

  • Jason Cadwell – drums, percussion (2005)
  • Marshall Kirkpatrick – drums, percussion (2009)
  • Edley O'Dowd – drums, percussion (2014)

Session musicians

  • Michael Redmond – bass (on Kylesa)
  • Bobby Scandiffio – guitar and crickets (on Time Will Fuse Its Worth)
  • Jay Matheson – bass (on Exhausting Fire)

Timeline ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:5 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/2001 till: TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2001 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2001

Colors = id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:BV value:pink legend:Backing_Vocals id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums,_Percussion id:Studio value:black legend:Studio_Album id:bars value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData = layer:back color:Studio at:06/01/2002 at:03/22/2005 at:10/30/2006 at:03/17/2009 at:10/25/2010 at:05/24/2013 at:10/02/2015

BarData = bar:Cope text:"Phillip Cope" bar:Pleasents text:"Laura Pleasents" bar:Duke text:"Brian Duke" bar:Barhorst text:"Corey Barhorst" bar:Villegas text:"Javier Villegas" bar:Rudeseal text:"Chase Rudeseal" bar:Jesse text:"John John Jesse" bar:Depken text:"Christian Depken" bar:Baltzley text:"Brandon Baltzley" bar:McGinley text:"Carl McGinley" bar:Porter text:"Jeff Porter" bar:Newberry text:"Tyler Newberry" bar:Hernandez text:"Eric Hernandez" bar:Mayorga text:"Roy Mayorga"

PlotData= width:11 bar:Cope from:01/01/2001 till:04/28/2016 color:Vocals bar:Pleasents from:01/01/2001 till:04/28/2016 color:Vocals bar:Cope from:08/20/2024 till:end color:Vocals bar:Pleasents from:08/20/2024 till:end color:Vocals bar:Cope from:01/01/2001 till:04/28/2016 color:Guitar width:3 bar:Pleasents from:01/01/2001 till:04/28/2016 color:Guitar width:3 bar:Cope from:08/20/2024 till:end color:Guitar width:3 bar:Pleasents from:08/20/2024 till:end color:Guitar width:3 bar:Depken from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2004 color:Drums bar:Baltzley from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2006 color:Drums bar:McGinley from:01/01/2006 till:04/28/2016 color:Drums bar:Duke from:01/01/2001 till:06/06/2001 color:Bass bar:Barhorst from:06/15/2002 till:06/01/2007 color:Bass bar:Villegas from:01/01/2008 till:06/01/2009 color:Bass bar:Barhorst from:06/01/2009 till:06/01/2011 color:Bass bar:Rudeseal from:08/01/2013 till:06/01/2015 color:Bass bar:Jesse from:08/20/2024 till:end color:Bass bar:Porter from:01/01/2006 till:06/01/2007 color:Drums bar:Newberry from:06/01/2007 till:01/01/2008 color:Drums bar:Newberry from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2012 color:Drums bar:Newberry from:01/01/2012 till:01/01/2013 color:Drums bar:Hernandez from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2010 color:Drums bar:Hernandez from:01/01/2013 till:06/01/2015 color:Drums bar:Mayorga from:08/20/2024 till:end color:Drums

width:7 bar:Barhorst from:06/01/2009 till:06/01/2011 color:Keys

width:3 bar:Duke from:01/01/2001 till:06/06/2001 color:BV bar:Barhorst from:06/15/2002 till:06/01/2007 color:BV bar:Barhorst from:06/01/2009 till:06/01/2011 color:BV bar:Hernandez from:01/01/2013 till:08/01/2013 color:Bass

Discography

;Studio albums

;Compilation albums

;Extended plays

  • Point of Stillness 7-inch (2002)
  • Delusion on Fire (2003)
  • No Ending / 110° Heat Index (2004)
  • Bacteria Sour double 7-inch (2004)
  • Unknown Awareness (2009)
  • Violitionist Sessions (2013)
  • Live Studio Improvisation 3.7.14 (2014)
  • Live at Maida Vale Studios (2017) ;Split releases
  • Split with Memento Mori (2002)
  • Split with Cream Abdul Babar (2003)
  • Split with Victims (2009)

;Music videos

  • "A 100º Heat Index" (2004)
  • "Where the Horizon Unfolds" (2006)
  • "Hollow Severer" (2007)
  • "Tired Climb" (2010)
  • "Unspoken" (2013)
  • "Low Tide" (2013)
  • "Lost and Confused" (2015)

;Other appearances

References

Bibliography

References

  1. "Kylesa".
  2. (February 24, 2009). "PROSTHETIC RECORDS.COM".
  3. "Kylesa (May.07 issue)". Stomp And Stammer.
  4. Parker, Chris. (September 24, 2009). "Dual-drumming Savannah sludge-rockers Kylesa overhaul sound". [[Oklahoma Gazette]].
  5. He began playing in hardcore punk groups in the late 1980s, and in 1992 booked groups such as [[Buzzoven]] and [[Neurosis (band)
  6. "Kylesa Biography". Starpulse.com.
  7. Peisner, p. 66.
  8. (April 8, 2010). "Kylesa Sign To Season Of Mist". Metal Insider.
  9. "Kylesa - New Song Streaming Online - Metal Storm".
  10. Brandon Stosuy. (March 15, 2013). "Laura Pleasants and Phillip Cope on their darker new album Ultraviolet". [[Pitchfork Media.
  11. Graham 'Gruhamed' Hartmann. (March 28, 2013). "Kylesa Announce 2013 North American Tour with Blood Ceremony, White Hills + Lazer/Wulf". [[Loudwire]].
  12. (July 29, 2015). "KYLESA To Release 'Exhausting Fire' Album In October". [[Blabbermouth.net]].
  13. Camp, Zoe. (April 29, 2016). "Kylesa Announce Indefinite Hiatus". Pitchfork Media.
  14. (August 20, 2024). "Kylesa Officially Reunite, Booked For 2025 ‘Roadburn Festival’".
  15. WISE, LAUREN. "The 21 Best Heavy Metal Albums of 2013".
  16. "Kylesa | Biography & History".
  17. Peisner, p. 68.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

american-sludge-metal-musical-groupsheavy-metal-musical-groups-from-georgia-(u.s.-state)musical-groups-established-in-2001musical-groups-disestablished-in-2016musical-groups-reestablished-in-2024american-musical-quintetsamerican-stoner-rock-musical-groupsseason-of-mist-artistsmusical-groups-from-savannah,-georgiamixed-gender-bandsfemale-fronted-musical-groups