Debut EP from Kilravock

Coming out of the underground music scene of Omaha, Kilravock is the exciting solo venture of accomplished multi-instrumentalist and producer Steven Wayne Smith. Having spent years forging his sound across an impressive roster of bands including The Alliterates, Lucid Fugue, Megaton and Valley of Shadows, he now steps out on his own terms, delivering an uncompromising sonic vision that fuses elements of stoner rock, doom, post metal, industrial and beyond.

The project is both a creative rebirth and a personal excavation, as he channels years of musical experience into a profoundly reflective and stylistically unique sound. It’s a platform through which he can explore themes of identity, society and the chaos of modern life all filtered through a gripping, often dark musical lens. The first taste of Kilravock arrived in late last year with the release of two standout singles “Incompatibility” and a brooding, textured reimagining of John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero.” It was an arresting debut that hinted at the scope and quality of what the artist been quietly crafting.

Now, Kilravock unveils a six-track EP, a compelling bridge between those initial singles and the forthcoming full-length album Just Another Wonderful Day. This latest release further distils his original sound by pulling from a decade spent immersed in the sludge and stoner metal grooves of Megaton and Valley of Shadows, the punk-spiked garage energy of The Alliterates and the electronic experimentation found in Lucid Fugue. The result is a dense, cinematic experience, equal parts abrasive and hypnotic.

Opened by original song “Who Killed Saint Monday?,” charging guitar riffs and the gallop of dusty drums are met with Kilravock’s intense vocal growls, crafting an exhilarating sludge rock anthem. Also lifted from his incoming album, his cover of “Solidarity Forever” builds from the downtempo rhythm of tapped drums, snaking guitar lines and jaunty vocal leads, alternating between Kilravock’s dark voice and a featured singer, with his version of the song, he reimagines music from over a century ago in his own musical vision.

His 2025 remix of previously released single “Incompatibility” immediately hits with striking drums and lively vocalisations, resulting in a driving and atmospheric alternative rock outing unlike any other. Also remixed this year, his cover of John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” sees Kilravock link up with Sean Soucy, Anna Schmidt and David Dick to deliver an acoustic rendition that captures the acoustic side of Kilravock’s sound, while showcasing his ability to reframe classic pop music in his own way.

Continuing his trend of exploring themes of politics and worker’s rights, with “Labor Day” he delivers a biting hard rock jam brimming with punk0inflected vocals and a wall of fuzzy guitar riffs riding the crash of drums. Closing the EP with “Beg For Scraps,” the sweep of smokey wind, drifting instrumental tones and rustling textures casts an unnerving yet engrossing soundscape with descends into an avant-garde scene of warbling vocal elements, pattering drums and immersive arrangement, creating a powerful and fiercely original finale to the EP which continues to build the hype for Kilravock’s upcoming debut album release.

Listen to Tyranny of the Clock below