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Music Spotlight: Best opening track of any album ever


I've finally begun working on my 2020 album of the year write-up and in it I mentioned one of the albums having just an amazing opening track. And first Spotlight, Slow Pulp's Moveys, I mention how it's initial track could've kept me from even considering the remaning songs. Today I want to talk about what is maybe my favorite opening track on any album.


Tired Climb | Kylesa - Spiral Shadow


[spotify] Tired Climb (track link)


Kylesa was (is?) a Sludge Metal band from Georga, USA. They stuck out to me when I first came across them due to their shared male and female vocals, and dual drummers once I realized. The track is off of Spiral Shadow which in addition to their Sludge Metal sound hash elements of Prog/Psychadellic rock/metal mixed in making it further standout among the other songs I heard that day. But this song is built to be remembered.


The song begins with dreamy, echo-y guitars over drone in unison. Then the rest of the band enters. Most notably the dual drumming creating this rhytmic motion propelling you forward, drawing you in. The tapping guitar melody is fat and creamy helping aid in that forward momentum the track is building.


Then the melody drops out and the drums speed up. Your ears perk up anticipating the drumming leading you some where. Finally the snare: 1...2...3


Sludge never flowed so fast


The groove drops back and the guitars chug away in their Sludge as the vocals begin. The verse being sung (shouted?) by Phillip Cope brings out this agressive tone which is juxtaposed by psychadelic and dreamy vocal performance by Luara Pleasants during the chorus. During the verse the sound is very much as expected of the genre: chugging. But in the chorus the guitars are laced with effects (Wah?) creating a soundscape more than notes or chords. All combined with the fast tom-rhythms from the end of the intro just continues that propolsion effect.


The second verse is followed by a fast fuzz-filled breakdown. The drums hammering awaying before returning to the chorus.


The track ends with the the intensity picking up washed out by wah-rich guitar before breaking and settling back into the echoing dreamlike guitar riff from the intro.


Hype at its best


For me this song is just pure hype. At only 3:20 it gets you pumped, ready for anything. And is my go-to start of a playlist where energy is needed. The intense high energy reminds me a lot of the DOOM soundtrack. It builds up ready for when you enter the fight then kicks it into high gear. This is especially evident in DOOM 2016, which uses a dynamic soundtrack loading different parts of tracks and blending between songs match the atmosphere with what the player is doing (ripping and tearing). It follows a very similar framework to DOOM's opening level song - At Doom's Gate - a classic build-up and hype formula building up and then just sitting in the pocket with a tight groove.


[youtube] DOOM and DOOM II OSTs

[spotify] BFG Division - Mick Gordon - DOOM OST (2016)


Linking BFG Division specifically from 2016's being the track played during the most intense fights in that game and gets you so hype.


Hell (pun) even DOOM 3's main theme fits the same formula: atmospheric soundscape getting you curious. As the drums start to get more and more intense, building you up then the drop.


[youtube] Doom 3 Theme


Is this a DOOM Spotlight?


Yes, DOOM is great, go play them all.


Conclusion


Spiral Shadow isn't my favorite album, but Tired Climb remains the start for many of my metal playlists. Perfect hype track.


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Previous (and referenced) Music Spotlight: Slow Pulp

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