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Kylesa
Kylesa
	Kylesa performing at Roskilde Festival 2011
Background information
Origin	Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Sludge metal; stoner metal;
Years active	2001–2016; 2024–present;
Labels	Season of Mist; Prosthetic; Havoc; Prank; 20 Buck Spin; La Familia; Alternative Tentacles; Retro Futurist; Heavy Psych Sounds;
Members	Phillip Cope; Laura Pleasants
Past members	Christian Depken; Brian Duke; Corey Barhorst; Brandon Baltzley; Carl McGinley; Jeff Porter; Tyler Newberry; Eric Hernandez; Javier Villegas; Chase Rudseal
Website	www.kylesamusic.com

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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,^[4] taking their name from "kilesa mara", a Buddhist term denoting delusory mental states.^[5]

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".^[6] 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.^[6] From 1993 to 2001, Cope played in the group Damad, which included vocalist Victoria Scalisi. 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."^[6] 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.^[6]

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.^[5] 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.^[7] Two songs on this album were inspired by the shooting of Jason Statts, a Savannah musician.^[6] 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."^[6]

As of 2010, Kylesa had sold 75,000 albums.^[8] In 2010, they signed with Season of Mist to release the album Spiral Shadow on October 26 that year.^[9] A rarities compilation album titled From the Vaults, Vol. 1 was released later that year.^[10]

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.^[11] 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.^[12] In October 2015, the group released their seventh album, Exhausting Fire, through Season of Mist.^[13]

In April 2016, the band announced in a Facebook post that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus.^[14]

In August 2024, the band announced they had returned from their hiatus and announced they would perform at the 2025 Roadburn Festival.^[15]

Musical style

Kylesa is most often classified as sludge and stoner metal.^[16] 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."^[4] 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."^[17]

Band members

Current members

Phillip Cope – vocals, guitars, samples (2001–2016, 2024–present)
Laura Pleasants – vocals, guitars (2001–2016, 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

Discography

Studio albums

Kylesa (2002)
To Walk a Middle Course (2005)
Time Will Fuse Its Worth (2006)
Static Tensions (2009)
Spiral Shadow (2010)
Ultraviolet (2013)
Exhausting Fire (2015)

Compilation albums

From the Vaults, Vol. 1 (2012)

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

For the Sick – Eyehategod tribute album (2007)
Like Black Holes in the Sky – Syd Barrett tribute album (2008)
Metal Swim – Adult Swim compilation album (2010)
"Come as You Are" (originally by Nirvana; tribute album Whatever Nevermind) (2015, Robotic Empire)