ALBUM REVIEW: A New Kind of Sideways – Kepler Ten
Progressive rock is a genre that is often touted as being exclusively for those of an older generation, consigned now to your dad’s record collection and slowly gathering dust on some shelf in the family home. KEPLER TEN are here to change that. The British trio turned heads with their 2017 debut offering Delta V, ending up on some high profile tours with LONELY ROBOT and VON HERTZEN BROTHERS and entering a number of End of Year lists in the process. They’ll hope to do the same again with A New Kind of Sideways, their sophomore album released today via White Star Records.
For a band with a relatively short career under their belts, one could assume they were going in too deep, too soon – after all, A New Kind of Sideways is seven tracks long and spans over an hour of music and, following the three minute welcome of Universal audaciously jumps into a track that clocks in a shade over ten minutes. But KEPLER TEN know what they’re doing, and then some. This could well be the best progressive rock album you hear in the whole of 2020, a truly wonderful journey that shows not only how talented the three musicians are at playing their instruments but also displays a mastery in what can be done with a linear line of song beginning and song end. As Clarity moves from a lush guitar intro to a minimal chorus of vocals and pianos with a minimum of fuss, all of a sudden you’re left wondering how you got there so smoothly.
Lead single Falling Down is a lot more straightforward in comparison, but combines the vintage strains of RUSH with the modern, electronic stylings of MUSE and turns out a driving, catchy ditty that’s easily accessible and very friendly on the ears. The heavier leanings of COHEED AND CAMBRIA come to the fore in Weaver without the need for distortion and the build from isolated singing to a full band symphony in These Few Words is exquisitely executed. This review cannot conclude without a mention of closing track One and the Same; twenty minutes in length and bringing together elements from all the precious songs on the album in a way that doesn’t jar or stilt, instead flowing with consummate ease towards its fade out conclusion.
If the world that enters 2021 is fairer than ever before, the three men who are behind this record should become household names. Steve Hales’ on drums has a wealth of styles and tempos at his disposal to fit all that KEPLER TEN house within their arsenal and Alistair Bell crafts solos and riffs with a grace and poise that makes it sound like he’s been able to do them since about the age of three. Rounding off the triple threat is James Duran, not only an accomplished bass players but a chameleonic vocalist – not only is his voice calm and controlled, regardless of the power he’s delivering, he’s able to move between pitches to fit the mood. In the title track, his high notes bear a striking resemblance to Bruce Dickinson and, indeed, those who have a real love for present day IRON MAIDEN should find plenty to enjoy here. In Icarus Eyes, he starts with a slight grit reminiscent of Jon Bon Jovi and ends with the soaring might of Bono in his prime; it’s simply staggering at just how good this band are, both individually and together.
Ambition will always pay off in the end and KEPLER TEN have done just that. In A New Kind of Sideways, the planet has borne witness to a truly exciting outfit, one that could easily be world-class if the pieces fall together in the right way. The best thing is that they can go better than this; they’re only just getting warmed up.
Rating: 9/10
A New Kind of Sideways is set for release on November 20th via White Star Records.
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