When Kings of Leon released their sophomore album, they proclaimed, "If Youth and Young Manhood was the party, Aha Shake Heartbreak is the hangover." If that's the case then Because of the Times, the band's third full-length proper, is when you decide, "Screw it, it's time to wake the beast," and start throwing back all the beers you can find.
Put bluntly, this album is Kings of Leon's loudest. From its first track, the two guitars, bass and drums collectively pound into your head like a drunk Irishman on Adderall. But wait-there is a method to this Guinness-fueled madness. Specifically, every song has a unique bass line and powerful guitar parts that drive toward constant crescendos. Airy electric guitars and the strange yet beautiful whine of lead singer Caleb Followill fill the breaks in intensity with eye-of-the-storm-like serenity.
Moreover, Because of the Times is a hurricane, engulfing the listener with force no one knew three young brothers and a cousin from a small town in Tennessee could deliver.
On the other hand, there's something here for the singles type as well. Tracks like "On Call," the album's pre-released single, and "My Party" will certainly get you going when you're looking for some downloadable caffeine.
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