Coming out of the Hudson Valley in upstate New York, the outfit known as King In Yellow is helmed by longtime friends and collaborators Kyle McDonough and Nick Vining. With the full lineup featuring Kyle on vocals and guitar, Nick on guitar, Mickey Rowan on bass and backing vocals and Garin Sheeley on drums, King In Yellow is a symphony of timeless melodies and punchy rhythms, blending raw energy with soothing sonic serenity.
Drawing inspiration from the golden eras of rock and jangle pop, King In Yellow’s sound is a fusion of classic punk from garage rock bands to the style of new wave and hardcore punk. Influences ranging from Iggy and the Stooges to Echo and the Bunnymen, REM, Johnny Marr and Sonic Youth combine into a distinctive sound that pays homage to the past while delivering a thoroughly current output.
As King In Yellow, they unveiled their sound with the debut single “Spirit Shift” earlier this year. Now they bring us their latest release with their sophomore single titled “Lightning Returning.” Recorded at Gage Street Studios with Chris Turco, the single captures the raw, unbridled energy of a band in their element, using traditional miking methods to amplify their unfiltered sound.
Launching straight in with a high-octane sound, uptempo drum strikes, pulsing bass guitar and jangly guitar chords collide before settling into a riff-focused groove. Airy vocals enter, subdued and wrapped in subtly processing to craft an atmospheric and charged post punk rock experience.
Brimming with splashy drums, slick guitar work delivered via fuzzy tones and commanding lead vocals, they craft an energising sound of lofty rock music that draws from their influences from the past and filters it through their own modern creative lens. Crunchy and impactful, it’s a raucous sound that sees the band continue to go from strength to strength with their second outing.
The heart of the song lies in Kyle’s reflective exploration, inspired by Allen Ginsberg’s Ballad of the Lights and the visual journey of Toshio Matsumoto’s Funeral Parade of Roses. “Lightning Returning” glances at the brief nature of human connections, the fragile yet essential threads that weave our existence. With their second track, the band continues to form a distinctive identity while unveiling an evolution, signalling that King In Yellow’s journey is one of perpetual growth and thrilling exploration.
Listen to Lightning Returning below
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