Review Summary: Long live the new kings.
Kings of Leon is now a band everybody knows well. After the great success of
Only By The Night, their music became like a plague, being heard everywhere and anywhere, creating an almost unstoppable force that became the most sold digital album of all time. Many older fans were askew with anger, disappointed in the band, calling them sell outs, as they had changed their sound to be more stadium friendly, unlike the rock rigour of the past. Even Caleb Followill had troubles with the album, saying abrupt statements such as, “We know you’re sick of Kings of Leon. We’re f
ucking sick of Kings of Leon too” – as the overexposure had become apparently too much. But maybe, just maybe Kings of Leon were just bluffing, maybe they had always had
Come Around Sundown planned to sound like a perfect mix of old and new? Because Kings of Leon’s latest packs one hell of punch that will keep the old timers beyond happy. Yet
Come Around Sundown is a changed Kings of Leon, branching off the past and diving head first into the future – forgetting and un-attaching any of the strings that came with
Only By The Night.
Come Around Sundown has glistening and cohesive production that is not unlike the multi-platinum success of their previous release, yet that is the only similarity found as the band has added a sense of familiarity which almost at once makes you feel connected with this record. Opener, “The End” is a slow, looped, almost ballad like tune that straightaway gives you a taste of a different Kings of Leon, while lead single “Radioactive” sounds like a Noiseworks cover, but has been tweaked perfectly, as the catchy and infectious guitar work makes it such a song that it will be listened to over and over again.
Come Around Sundown has a heavy influence on water and the beach due to the bands heavy listening of classic surf rock bands before entering the studio, and this is shown throughout the album with differing mentions in the lyrics;
“It's in the water, It's in the story of where you came from
Your sons and daughters in all their glory it's gonna shape 'em
And when they pledge and come together, and start a rising
Just drink the water where you came from, where you came from”
The southern rock feel that Kings of Leon mastered for so long before
Only By The Night is again found here, “Mi Amigo” is a fantastic example of this, with a rich yet funked up guitar line clashed against a smooth yet throaty performance by Followill, it is one of the best rock offerings by the band to date.
Come Around Sundown is everything that you could have hoped for. Delving into a sound that feels and is obviously more comfortable for the band, the infectious guitar hooks, bouncing bass lines and more importantly a stunning performance by Followill, mean that Kings of Leon are back on track with a reinvigorated sound that clears all the uncertainty that has been hanging in the air.
Come Around Sundown is a fantastic return to form.
