Kyng – Burn the Serum

Kyng is a hard rock trio that has been gaining all kinds of attention as of late. Likely fueled from the band playing at Rock on the Range in Columbus two years ago, this hype has gradually increased over time. It all peaked when the recognition eventually led to a record deal with Razor & Tie not too long ago. Now that they’re a part of Razor & Tie, the Southern California natives are wasting no time, having just released their sophomore full-length album, Burn the Serum, this past Tuesday.

The title track gets things started for the So Cal trio. “Burn the Serum” makes its entrance with a minute-long intro, before kicking into a fast groove. The high singing brought by vocalist Eddie Veliz takes a front seat, backed by the groove provided throughout the entire song. The title track is a nice taste of what is to come on the rest of Burn the Serum, and a decent introduction to anyone unfamiliar with Kyng. “Lost One” is a solid tune musically, and the chorus rocks, but during the verses Velitz’s vocals don’t really seem to match the instrumentation. Honestly, this is really the only downside to “Lost One.” Other than that, it’s not half bad. Next up is “Electric Halo,” an upbeat but straight-forward rocker. Veliz continues to showcase his unique style of singing throughout the song, which makes it perfect as the album’s lead single, currently at modern rock radio.

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“Sewn Shut,” one of the longer songs on the record, is a relatively mediocre tune. Aside from the ¾ time signature, there’s nothing that really makes it stand out. “Faraway” is very similar to its predecessor, in that it is a fast-paced ¾ track, and although it may be roughly two minutes shorter, it sounds about the same as “Sewn Shut.” The guitar riff in the bridge of the following track, “Self Medicated Man,” is stellar, and the chorus is also top-notch, making it one of the stronger songs on the album. Continuing their infectious riffs, “The Ode” is another solid track. “In the Land of Pigs” is a fun tune to rock out to, and possibly the best song on Burn the Serum. The bridge could not be catchier, and overall it’s just a lot of fun.

“Sunday Smile” is yet another track where the guitar shines through, really giving it an edge. “Big Ugly Me” makes the listener wonder if the mediocre songs towards the top of the tracklist were just the outcasts, with a swung eighth note pattern supplying the tune’s backbone for the majority of the time. The Southern influence is prominent throughout the entire record, but even more so than the rest on “Big Ugly Me.” Finally, “Paper Heart Rose” is the stripped-down closer to the album, driven by acoustic guitar and a groovy bassline. The song lasts right around four minutes, and fades away in a chorus of “oohs.”

Kyng’s new record, Burn the Serum, is about as cohesive as modern hard rock gets. There are certainly a handful of songs on the album significantly better than the others, but as a whole Burn the Serum is a solid release and enjoyable listen. The fact that the band is only a trio adds to their charm. If you’re looking for a group with a fun throwback feel, a relatively straightforward sound, and a modern sensibility, then these Los Angeles boys are for you.

Score: 3.5/5

Kyng on Facebook | Purchase Burn the Serum on iTunes

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  1. An Interview with Kyng « TUNED UP - […] free to check out my review of Burn The Serum if you’d like to give it a read, and…
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