It’s been a while coming (mostly due to an ongoing health issue), but I finally have my first review of the year for you, folks, and hot damn, what a way to kick things off! You know when you walk into a liquor store and come across a new beer or a wine you’ve never tried, and once you get a taste, it goes down so smooth and easy that before you know it, it’s all gone? This is the best analogy I can give you regarding Indus Valley Kings’ eponymous debut album.
Indus Valley Kings (IVK) is a trio hailing from the Bronze Age of Antiquity via Long Island, New York. The band’s name no doubt references the Indus Valley Civilization, which along with Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia was one of the three early civilizations of the Near East and South Asia. The Indus Valley culture thrived some 4,000 years ago, and bound together more than a thousand cities and settlements scattered across Pakistan and Northwestern India. All right, history lesson aside, on to the music. In this day and age where it’s hard to stand out from the pack, IVK succeed in crafting an album that is incredibly diverse; from stoner rock to groovy blues with echoes of ‘90s metal, and peppered with ‘70s hard rock influences. I can definitely hear a bit of Helmet, some nods to Kyuss, and even the doom of the mighty Sabbath throughout their songs. They remind me of some of the cool metal bands I went to see in concert in my youth during the 1990s with an updated sound for the 21st century.
IVK’s self-titled LP has strong vocals and awesome guitar solos throughout, courtesy of singer/guitarist Billy Fridrich who is backed up by a powerful rhythm section consisting of Jonathan Lesley Habers on bass/backing vocals and Dan Lofaro on drums. The ceremony begins with “Angels”, a grungy track dripping with desert heat that immediately holds your attention. “Cactus People” is a song you can absolutely bob your head to with its catchy rhythm. Next up is the doomy “The Method” which switches to a faster tempo and a great guitar solo mid-song. It’s followed by “Remains of Yesterday”, a terrific number with the band really showcasing their musical diversity and songwriting skills—and also features my favorite guitar solo of the album. It brings us to “Devil”, one of the highlights of the album with its foreboding bass opening. This song oozes with atmosphere and turns into a barn-burner, serving as a perfect opportunity for the band to let loose and rip it up. Mark my words, you’ll be singing “You can’t escape the soultaker” long after the album comes to a close. “Phoenix” and “Scapegoat” keep the festivities going, once again demonstrating just how well the bandmates complement one another; pounding bass, rhythmic drumming, and guitar shredding on full display. “Rest in Waste” is a hypnotic, doomy affair with groovy bass and drum, and scorching guitars. The closing track, “1,000 Wicked Souls”, has a meaner sound to it, with its chugging guitar and bass, and is the perfect way to let the musical dust settle after this eclectic 48-minute sonic journey.
The band puts out a polished album all-around and sound really tight playing together. I have a feeling they’d be a great act to see live. Indus Valley Kings manage to carve out a unique sound for themselves, marking their debut with a solid LP that has immense replay value. Take them for a spin on Bandcamp (link below) and show them some love by picking up a copy of their album. You’ll be glad you did.
Indus Valley Kings’ Bandcamp page: https://indusvalleykings.bandcamp.com/releases
