Fact: King’s X has never released a bad album. In fact, they haven’t even released an “OK” album. Every album they’ve made over the course of their roughly 35 year career ranges from “great” to “masterpiece”. I attribute this to a few key factors. For one, the three members of King’s X, dUg Pinnick, Ty Tabor, and Jerry Gaskill, are remarkably talented songwriters and musicians in their own right. Together, they create this brilliant music that, despite never achieving mass commercial appeal, transcends genre descriptors and time itself. Is it metal? Is it prog? Is it psych? Is it funk? Is it singer/songwriter? It’s all of the above and none of the above…and then some. You follow?
Another reason for King’s X’s continued creative success is that they do things at their own pace. Even when they were tied and bound to the demands of a major label contract, things flowed organically and never came off as forced, processed, and so on. Nowadays King’s X take their sweet time in between releases, as it’s somehow been 14 years since they’ve bestowed any new music upon us. Yes, you read that correctly. So when the advance for their brand new album, Three Sides of One, found its way into my inbox, I couldn’t hit the “download” button fast enough.
Like the return of a long, lost friend, Three Sides of One sees King’s X pick right up where they left off, as if no time had passed at all. The opening “Let it Rain” sets the tone for this colossal release: Heavy, funky, and downright groovy. When put together, the soulful vocals of Pinnick, spellbinding guitar work of Tabor, and hard hitting, yet slightly unorthodox drumming of Gaskill are a lethal combo. The combo’s intent shifts with each song, but the approach remains the same. The sludgy, pseudo-djent influence Pinnick teased in my interview with him can be heard on cuts like “Flood, Pt. 1” and “Swipe Up”, while the brutally honest “Nothing But the Truth” and explosive “Give It Up” explore the soul and funk side of the spectrum respectively. They’re different styles, yes, but boast the same ethos and drive for greatness.
While Pinnick handles songwriting and vocal duties on roughly half of the album, Tabor injects his unique blend of power pop meets psychedelia meets singer/songwriter on the other half, adding depth and contrast per usual. He has many shining moments throughout this release, as both a guitarist and songwriter. The blistering Thin Lizzy-esque rocker that is “Festival” showcases some ripping soloing, as does the simple and straightforward “Watcher”. His love for Lennon and McCartney shines on the quirky “Holidays” and atmospheric “Take the Time”. Yet it’s the thought provoking “All God’s Children” that stands head and shoulder above the rest, with it’s questioning of evangelical Christianity set to a harmony laden soundscape of introspective and metallic psych-folk.
In many ways, Three Sides of One may be the essential King’s X album. Perhaps creatively not in the same context as Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (1989), Faith Hope Love (1990), and Dogman (1994), but this album screams, more so than the rest, “We are King’s X and here’s what we’re about.” You either get it or you don’t. And for those who do, this is bound to be one of the finest releases of the year, if not the decade. I sure know I’ll be listening to it for the next 14 years.
9 out of 10
Label: InsideOut Music
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Thin Lizzy, Cheap Trick, The Beatles