For their 13th studio album, and first in fourteen years, King's X are back with Three Sides of One, their follow-up to 2008's XV. Opening track "Let It Rain" sounds very much like classic King's X, thick, textured guitar riffs from Ty Tabor, Doug Pinnick's trademark soulful wail, and Jerry Gaskill's intricate drumming are all in full force, and the song is somewhat heavy, yet instantly memorable. Those familiar King's X vocals harmonies, based on their love of The Beatles, shine on "Flood, Pt. 1", interjected with burst of heavy metal riffing, while "Nothing But the Truth" sees the band settling back into a dreamy, bluesy setting, Doug's vocals truly shining on this otherwise laid back song. "Give It Up" features a more uptempo, slightly uptempo barrage, backing vocals upfront in the mix and Tabor's guitar slashing and slicing, a similar avenue both "Festival" and "Swipe Up" take, the band blending hard rock, funk, and pure pop for their always intriguing formula. "Holidays" and "Watcher" also rock, not too hard, but just enough, and those that like the poppier side to the band will find plenty of interest with "She Called Me Home".
The rest? Well, Three Sides of One does contain a few songs that just kind of meander and don't have a lot to say, such as "Nothing But the Truth", "All God's Children", and "Take the Time", and truth be told, the album as a whole is a tad mellower than I would have expected, but there are still enough exciting rockers on the album to give it two thumbs up and a very solid 'welcome back' to the band. Hopefully we don't have to wait 14 years for the next one!
Track Listing
1 Let It Rain
2 Flood, Pt. 1
3 Nothing But the Truth
4 Give It Up
5 All God's Children
6 Take the Time
7 Festival
8 Swipe Up
9 Holidays
10 Watcher
11 She Called Me Home
12 Every Everywhere
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