By Adam Waldman
On March 28, 1988, underrated power trio King’s X released their debut album Out Of The Silent Planet. This brilliant debut was admired by rock critics, but failed to achieve much commercial success. It peaked at #144 on the Billboard 200 chart. Neither single (“King” or “Shot Of Love”) garnered much attention at radio.
King’s X has never gotten their just due. Despite having a loyal fan base and critical acclaim, this trio is too unique for their own good when it comes to the mainstream. Their blending of progressive metal, funk and soul combined with their gospel, blues and British Invasion influences makes them nearly impossible to pigeonhole into a radio category.
Doug (dUg) Pinnick (lead vocals/bass), Ty Tabor (guitar) and Jerry Gaskill (drum) are incredible musicians with a chemistry that few can rival. Throw in vocal harmonies that are as good as anyone in rock, and it boggles the mind that this band never became a household name.
From top to bottom, Out Of The Silent Planet is loaded with outstanding songs. There is simply no filler on this album whose title was inspired by the book of the same name by British Novelist C.S. Lewis.
This Day In Hard Rock typically ends with YouTube videos of a song or two, but in the case of Out Of The Silent Planet, I’m going to recommend listening to the album in its entirety. It’s the best way to fully appreciate what it has to offer. From a personal standpoint, “Goldilox” is not only my favorite track on the album, but an all-time favorite from any band.
Out Of The Silent Planet is an excellent introduction to one of the most underrated bands in hard rock history. Take this 42-minute journey…you will not be disappointed!
Leave a Reply