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Tyrants & Kings

Sketches For A Requiem

Written by: PP on 10/08/2024 16:10:50

Tyrants & Kings is a Danish rock band that released three albums over a decade ago. They're back with their fourth record "Sketches For A Requiem", a moody, ambient, minimalist rock album fully driven by the thick, baritone vocals of Dennis Kasten. It's their first work in ten years, meaning they've had plenty of time to hone these songs into one coherent collection.

Indeed, given the record's tendency to bathe in dark melancholy and somber, quiet soundscapes, it lends itself best for a moment where you have enough time to fully listen with a good pair of headphones to absorb its detail. Kasten's baritone style borrows heavily from artists like Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen, which means his warm, yet coarse delivery is soothing while also offering plenty of depth to the atmosphere.

Speaking of which, atmosphere is what this record is all about. "Lovers Gone Op. 9" is almost like an orchestral piece with an added cello giving the track ample elevation from an instrumental perspective. With Kasten's low-range vocals on top, it creates an effect that makes the song feel deeply profound as if it is coming from a personal angle.

"My World Is Burning" is one of the louder tracks on the record, surprisingly drawing parallels to the more modern Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes tracks. Here, the expansive howls fit perfectly against the ambient background drop for a richly textured soundscape that feels intensely authentic.

The atmosphere and mood throughout "Sketches For A Requiem" is well executed to feel like a whole rather than a sum of individual parts. Whether it's calm, piano-driven sessions like "Keep Your Eyes Open" or the more crescendoing rock parts, it feels experimental, depth-laden, and driven by thematics. If you've ever listened to the Westworld soundtrack, then Tyrants & Kings are in a similar realm here. The album feels romantic but from a Western angle. It's dark but only because Kasten's baritone vocals make it so.

Overall, it's one of those records that when you sit down and listen to it, you're impressed by its detail and the emotion that has clearly gone into recording it just right. That said - its experimentalism, minimalism, and slow vibes mean it's not gonna be one for the masses. Niché audiences will potentially enjoy this to the point of a cult status, however.

Download: My World Is Burning, Lovers Gone Op. 9, Into The Dark
For the fans of: Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen
Listen: Facebook

Release date 31.05.2024
Engine Room Records