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Kings of Leon: “Only by the night” Album review

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“Given the chance i’m gonna be somebody”

Story By Nye Forman The alternative rock band, Kings of Leon is a band of three brothers, Caleb (vocals), Jared (bass guitar), Nathan (drums) and cousin Matthew (guitar).

After recording for most of 2008 the “All American long haired rockers”, released “Only by the night” which subsequently entered the UK albums chart at number one and stayed there for four weeks.

After the production and release of their album “Only bye the night” in 2008 the band experienced a huge growth in popularity especially in Canada and the United Kingdom. As of 2009 the band have attained nine top forty singles, including the number one single “Sex On Fire”.

There was mixed reviews from critics about the album, with the British press granting the album glowing reviews. Q magazine named Only by the night “album of the year” for 2008. In the United

States reactions to the album were more mixed with some quite negative reviews.

The biggest success from Only by the night was “Sex On Fire” and won the band a Grammy award.

Caleb’s instinct for insularity is not surprising given that the band is made up of family members.

The familial vibe extended to the recording process when Kings of Leon returned to Nashville.

With its stunning melodies, ringing guitars, and razor-sharp grooves, the latest album delivers on the promise Kings of Leon have shown throughout their career. From the desolate atmospherics of the opening track “Closer” (which Caleb says is about a lovesick vampire) to the emotional intensity of the closing ballad “Cold Desert” (“about a man at the end of his rope who picks himself back up”), Only

By The Night is all heart from start to finish.

Kings of Leon will be appearing at the Leeds festival in August.

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