Artist: KINGS X
Album: OGRE TONES (CD)

Year: 2005
Media type: CD

As a consumer you've got to be extremely cautious with a term such as "cult band". It is often used to describe acts who are commercially unsuccessful or by groups trying to disguise their musical inabilities. With all due respect, this is certainly not the case with King's X. Doug Pinnick (vocals, bass), Jerry Gaskill (drums) and Ty Tabor (guitars) are consummate professionals who enjoy a brilliant reputation amongst fans, media and their peers. King's X's status as a "cult band" stems from their long time significance on the international rock scene as an all encompassing, fresh and innovative band. Their brand new album "Ogre Tones" again proves to be a classic example of intelligent, varied and imaginative rock, on which they combine flawless skills, great compositions and superb production. Ty Tabor sums it up succinctly by saying, "I seriously believe that this is the best thing we have done in years".

The collaboration with veteran producer Michael Wagener, who has worked with everyone from Queen and Alice Cooper to bands like Dokken and Extreme, had a very positive impact on "Ogre Tones", says Tabor. "We haven't had the luxury to work with an external producer for a very long time", he explains. "It was just fantastic to concentrate exclusively on the music". The King's X guitarist also recalls the advantages of working at Wagner's studio in Nashville, Tennessee. "Michael's studio is the most idyllic and most wonderful place we have ever recorded an album at".

These perfect conditions have distinctly influenced the thirteen new songs on the album. With passion and pure dynamics, King's X tear through songs such as the rocking opener "Alone", the programmed "Hurricane", or the cool groove of "Sooner Or Later". Tabor hates to single out any one song as having turned out better than another. "For me, all of the songs are equally good, everything else I leave to the listener, and of those everybody has his own special likings". However, one should give mention to the most unlikely track on the album "Bepop". "The chorus is probably one of the most catchy King's X have ever written, in contrast the verses and the conclusion are really strange", Tabor admits with a smile. Finally he reveals the meaning behind the album's weird title "'Ogre Tones' is a play on words in the sense of 'Over Tones'", he explains. "Only ogre sounds a little bit more sinister. An ogre is a mystical creature usually found in fairy tales about elves and trolls".

Since their debut album "Out Of The Silent Planet" in 1988, King's X have recorded a string of fantastic albums. "Gretchen Goes To Nebraska" (1989), "Faith Hope Love" (1990), "Ear Candy" (1996), "Tapehead" (1998) or "Manic Moonlight" (2001) are all regarded as perfect examples of their successful mix of rock and blues with psychedelic overtones. Since their signing with InsideOut two years ago, the band has released the albums "Black Like Sunday" and their first official live album "Live All Over The Place". With "Ogre Tones" the Texan trio pulls no punches and continues to show their enthusiasm for playing. Ty Tabor says, "It was so much fun in a way like never before. It's great that something like that is still possible".

Tracklisting:

01. Alone 2:57
02. Stay 2:23
03. Hurricane 3:31
04. Fly 2:43
05. If 2:58
06. Bebop 4:00
07. Honesty 2:42
08. Open My Eyes 4:03
09. Freedom 3:21
10. Get Away 3:25
11. Sooner Or Later 7:00
12. Mudd 4:41
13. Goldilox (Reprise) 4:52
14. Bam 2:43

Line-Up:

Jerry Gaskill (Drums, vocals)
Doug Pinnick (Bass, vocals)
Ty Tabor (Guitar, vocals)

Discography:

"Ogre Tones" (2005)
"Live All Over The Place " (2004)
"Black Like Sunday" (2003)
"Manic Moonlight" (2001)
"Please Come Home …Mr. Bulbous" (2000)
"Tapehead" (1998)
"Ear Candy" (1998)
"Dogman" (1994)
"King's X" (1992)
"Faith Hope Love" (1990)
"Gretchen Goes To Nebraska" (1989)
"Out Of The Silent Planet" (1988)