ALBUM REVIEW: Year Of The Tiger – Myles Kennedy
Since the turn of the millennium Myles Kennedy and his awe inspiring vocal talents have been at the forefront of the rock/metal world with his breadth of contributions spanning from ALTER BRIDGE to his work with GUNS N’ ROSES legend Slash. 2018 see’s him turn his hand to crafting a solo effort entitled Year Of The Tiger which is available now via Napalm Records. The finished product which has now been unveiled wasn’t actually his first attempt. After working on this album for over seven years he realised that the product he had comprised up to that point was not in line with what he had envisioned for the project and decided to start completely from scratch. Utilising this composition as a tribute to his late father who passed away when he was only young (the inspiration for the album title came from the year of his passing which happened to be the Chinese year of the tiger) Myles Kennedy has worn his heart on his sleeve and released his inner struggles out into the open.
The title track Year Of The Tiger commences with a very solemn but addictive tone taking the perspective of Myles‘ mother in an engrossing biographical fashion with masterfully understated instrumentation letting the palpable emotion in his voice appropriately become the focal point. Proceeding track The Great Beyond heads down a similar path whilst taking a more dramatic, theatrical direction featuring ghostly guitar tones and effortless soaring highs which send chills down your spine providing some of the most captivating elements Year Of The Tiger has to offer.
Blind Faith follows the history of Myles‘ father being a very religious man and after learning of his illness he refused any form of medical assistance. This leads Myles Kennedy to question his allegiance with his spiritual upbringing. The tasteful country lap steel vibes incorporated are sublime alongside some very touching lyrical content about how his father passed “like a whisper in the night” tugging on your heart strings. Devil On The Wall begins with hauntingly minimalistic vocals before bursting into life with prominent bass lines in an almost swing like procession. The upbeat country feel and high energy supplemented by infectious chorus lines are destined to become ingrained in many a memory.
Ghost Of Shangri La takes the album on its next voyage combining subtle inviting guitar work with reflective passages concerning the decision to move away from their family home as “the house is getting colder, the shadows will not die”. The depiction of internal contemplation and self repair follows into Turning Stones which evokes the vision of his journey to overcoming his anguish delicately narrated by a steady riff pacing in the background. Haunted By Design is conservative in construction but the subtleties and restrained, smooth nature of Myles Kennedy‘s voice are utterly engrossing, immersing you in the inner strife circulating through his mind. At this point your heart and soul may already be feeling particularly fragile, if this is the case then prepare yourself for the beautiful ode to his Mother which provides some of the albums more positive sentiments commending her strength in the face of adversity and “when all hope has left to die, a mothers love survives”.
Nothing But A Name comprises some of the most tear jerking material you may hear for quite some time, reflecting on the loss of his father and that you never truly stop missing someone when they pass. The layered vocals as the chorus gracefully sails through the arrangement are breath taking. If that didn’t give you an emotional surge of vulnerability then be prepared for Love Can Only Heal to leave you like a sombre shell of a human being. The emotion is instantly evident from the opening note and the fragility Myles Kennedy displays is heart breaking. Despite this distress there is a positive, empowering message embedded in the overall context, “don’t be afraid to feel”.
As Year Of The Tiger edges towards the climactic stages Songbird raises your spirits with an inviting, invigorating mood discussing the process of having the strength to rebuild and move forward before closing track One Fine Day deals with that in time things will get easier, you will have the strength to take those necessary steps and “let it go, let it go, let it go”. The intricate guitar work which unravels within accompanies the uplifting messages brilliantly to finish the album on a more optimistic note.
Myles Kennedy has well and truly exposed his demons, putting his heart on the table for everyone to see with this effort. The unenviable task of coping with his father passing flows through Year Of The Tiger, taking you on an expedition of multiple emotional states leaving you feeling you have experienced something life changing. His vocal talents always remain dominant in the arrangements but his instrumental diversity is equally as impressive as every song feels like it’s own separate defining entity but they are all so perfectly cohesive . The lyrical content is so thought provoking that you feel a certain level of symbiosis with his struggles and for a musical composition to evoke that sheer level of emotion is truly special.
Rating: 10/10
Year Of The Tiger is out now via Napalm Records.
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