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To Kill a King: The Spiritual Dark Age

Peter Oberth — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:20:37 +0000

Review:

Exclusive?:

BOTTOM LINE:

Grade:

3.75

A solid third album with haunting lyrics and beautiful compositions.

Album:

The Spiritual Dark Age

I first heard To Kill A King several years back with their song "Bloody Shirt" and I was intrigued. I thought I'd made one of those unique discoveries of a classic band that somehow eluded me. Lead singer Ralph Pelleymounter has the voice of an aged and experience folk vocalist, I would never have guessed that it was coming from a twenty-something year-old. Now, To Kill a King have returned with their third outing "The Spiritual Dark Age", a dark and seemingly forboding warning to a world quickly descending into chaos.

The leadoff self-titled track has a catchy verse leading to an even more addicting chorus, promising a sharp turn from TKAK's earlier work. Pelleymounter has ascended as a songwriter and is one small break away from challenging Mumford and all his sons for British folk rock "it" band. "Spiritual Dark Age" leads into "The Unspeakable Crimes of Peter Popoff", a seemingly upbeat and happy song until to delve into the lyrics, singing of the horrid religious scam artist Peter Popoff (whom, surprisingly, is back at it again after a lengthy conviction). The next 7 tracks follow the same darker theme leading into another bright spot in "My God & Your God" which continues the sorrowful subject of society's loss of morality. The best (and longest) track on the album "And Yet..." is truly the definition of saving the best for last. The vocals go off track from what fans would normally expect of TKAK with a hauntingly beautiful instrumental to close out what will surely be one of the best under the radar releases of 2018.

Do everyone a favour and grab this gem so you can say you were in on the ground floor before they are the next big thing.

Recommended Tracks:
"And Yet"
"Spiritual Dark Age"
"My God & Your God"
"No More Love Songs"

FUN FACT

To Kill a King made their U.S. touring debut supporting fellow British rockers Bastille in 2013. The two bands are returning to the stage in the UK on Bastille's sold out "Reorchestrated" tour in April of 2018.

Band:

To Kill A King

To Kill a King: The Spiritual Dark Age

Peter Oberth — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:02:58 +0000

The Spiritual Dark Age

Leeds-born, London-based indie pop outfit To Kill a King formed in 2009 around the talents of Ralph Pelleymounter, Ian Dudfield, Josh Platman, John Willoughby, and Ben Jackson. Steeped in both the rural folk aesthetic of Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling, and the orchestral arena rock leanings of Frightened Rabbit and the National, the band inked a deal with the Communion label and released its first single, Fictional State, in May 2011 followed six months later by the EP My Crooked Saint. With continuous tours throughout the U.K. and support slots for the likes of the Flaming Lips and Bastille, it wasn't until 2013 that the group self-released their debut album, Cannibals with Cutlery, after parting ways with Communion. In August 2013 the band signed a new deal with Xtra Mile Recordings, who reissued their debut album with four extra tracks. To Kill a King continued to tour rigorously but original members Ian Dudfield and John Willoughby parted company with the group at the end of 2013, replaced by Grant McNeill and Joshua Taffel.

(To Kill A King)

Release Date:

Friday, January 12, 2018

Label(s):

These Are My Bones

Genre:

Rock

Format:

Tracks:

Discs:

Parental Advisory:

Yes