Kylesa Sold Out exclusive show at the Underworld in London

For fans of heavy sludge riffs, the weekday before ArcTanGent means some bands stop by London Town for warm-up shows before the beast of the festival begins. Kylesa dropped into The Underworld for a sweltering hour of psych-infused riffs that crashed down on us like a rock avalanche. The show was sold out, every inch of space taken over by eager fans. It was a rare treat: the band hadn’t toured in 10 years, so for many who discovered them during the hiatus, this was an essential pit stop. Their form was on fire as it felt like they had never left in the first place.

Silverburn

What began as James “Jimbob” Isaac’s solo project in the depths of the pandemic has grown into a fully fledged live band, allowing the music to escape the record and bloom in front of us. They were a solid opener with that noisy sludge that bends genres, sprinkled with hardcore and even mathcore. Perfect as a pre-Kylesa warm-up.

It’s the kind of band that draws everyone straight to the front, even those who strolled in late. The type that makes you rush for your first drink, ears pricked, knowing you want to stay and see what they’re about. By the end of the set, a tight knot of listeners had formed by the stage, soaking in the fresh and bold sounds. Their debut “Self-Induced Transcendental Annihilation” took years to materialise, with Isaac steering the ship alone. Now, once it’s released, it’ll be fascinating to watch where this first album it takes them.

Telepathy

I’ve known Telepathy for over a decade, and it had been a while since I last saw them live. In that time, the band has settled into its sound, creatively matured, yet still carries that spark of childlike curiosity and wonder. That’s what they evoke in anyone listening, you’re constantly wondering what’s next: will the drums suddenly crush your eardrums, will the tempo drop into a delicate lullaby-like whisper, or will everything spin off into wild, unpredictable rhythms?

Signed to Pelagic Records earlier this year, they released their fourth album, Transmissions, and it’s their strongest work to date. And it feels like they’re only just getting started. If Amenra holds the space of harrowing soundscapes, Telepathy occupies the hopeful counterpart, telling stories with a cinematic flair, creating vivid images that implant themselves into your mind. Their music is a soundtrack for any quest, no matter how small or grand. In the hot basement of The Underworld, I saw wide-open mouths, eyes reflecting stage lights with awe. Some new songs clearly made their way onto personal playlists that night, and more than a few people walked out having found a new band to follow closely.

Kylesa

They are just awesome. Objectively speaking, and professionally writing.

I wish I could bottle up the vibes, the sticky heat, and the fun energy of the night and send them to anyone who missed the show. For an hour, they dominated with a set heavy on their masterpiece Static Tensions, playing six tracks from the album. I wish I had known them back in 2009 when it dropped, to ride the wave of that release in real time.

Then indie rock was peaking, Kylesa turned everything upside down with a heavier take on psychedelic stoner rock and infused it with sludge and shoegaze. What a mix. The guitar work was crushing yet playful, light yet relentless, taking us all on a wild ride. The pit was chaos: people bouncing off the walls, heads snapping to wild rhythms and trance-like midsections.

They are back, and it felt like watching someone take their first sip of water after a day wandering the desert. The thirst for performing and making noise was insatiable. Tempos crashed, riffs roared, like an engine redlining in low gear on a gravel road, barely gripping the ground as it drifted from side to side. Kylesa took their name from the Buddhist term kilesa mara, meaning “clouded mind” by greed, hatred, and delusion. Hopefully, everyone left those emotions above ground because in that room, there was no space or time to hold onto a single thought. The chaotic sounds swept everything else away. As the hour unfolded, we were treated to the full range of their catalogue: shifting tempos, snarling vocals, and true grit blasting straight into our ears.

Ten years of waiting was worth it.