Kylesa

Formed in the early 2000s in Savannah, Georgia (US), Kylesa embedded itself in the local metal scene by combining sludge, psychedelic rock and a hardcore legacy. Built around the guitar/vocal duo of Laura Pleasants and Phillip Cope, the band developed a dense, heavy sound based on thick riffs, alternating female and male vocal lines, and — for part of its run — a two-drummer lineup that emphasized the hypnotic, repetitive quality of the compositions. After a self-titled debut in 2002, their discography solidified with releases such as To Walk a Middle Course (2005), Time Will Fuse Its Worth (2006), Static Tensions (2009) and Spiral Shadow (2010), which foregrounded the psychedelic elements, before the group explored more melodic and atmospheric territory on Ultraviolet (2013) and Exhausting Fire (2015). Active for roughly fifteen years, Kylesa toured extensively across North America and Europe, moving between metal stages, punk venues and alternative festivals, before announcing a hiatus in 2016. The band’s revival centered again on Laura Pleasants and Phillip Cope with a new rhythm section featuring Roy Mayorga and John John Jesse, continuing Kylesa’s grounding in heavy, psych-tinged metal, still permeated by punk influence and DIY culture.