Recent Reviews

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Khigh: Copylefted Rightovers

Khigh: Copylefted Rightovers

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Rating: 3.5/5.0

Power Play Records
www.khigh.com
www.myspace.com/krisempire
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 05.24.2009

Khigh is a hard Los Angeles based band built around guitarist, lead vocalist, and lyricist by the name of Kris. Copylefted Rightovers is his third release, and second with the minor label Power Play Records. Khigh's music attempts to blend melodic hard rock with heavy metal with interesting results. However, after listening, Khigh' style is largely indeterminate, but also nothing novel. And this may be Khigh's inherent conundrum: being indefinable is a good thing for it does not allow you to be pigeon-holed with other bands within a genre. Conversely, it also does not allow for any recognition; there are no musical pegs for listening ears to grasp.

If anything Khigh reminds of the past: I hear Deep Purple at times, and possibly a Led Zeppelin meets Black Sabbath. Even with this fog, several notable comments can be made. The strength of Khigh is definitely Kris. He's a skillful composer (although he sounds like he stealing from Deep Purple's 'Hush' on 'More'), and he's a damn fine guitar player. His fret work is the strongest aspect of Copylefted Rightovers. Though he sizzles throughout, I enjoyed him best on 'Supremacy Of Rock,' 'Inspiration,' 'Don't Call Me,' and 'Creed Of Hate.' However, I wasn't overly impressed by his vocal abilities. But this may be due to the poor production. On one hand, the mix is thick and expansive; alternatively, the vocals sound muted and the drums like tin cans. I'm thinking Khigh sounds much better live. Finally, even though there is some variation from song to song and some novel use of electronics, the majority of Copylefted Rightovers simply ran together as one singular sound. Again, this may be the fault of production, but it still left me unsatisfied. More often than not, after about the second song, I was only listening for Kris's guitar solos.

Khigh's Copylefted Rightovers is a solid, yet ultimately indefinite and uneventful, work of hard rock/heavy metal which defies current mainstream trends with the best parts coming from guitarist, lyricist, and vocalist Kris' guitar skill.

In Short

Khigh's Copylefted Rightovers is a solid, yet ultimately indefinite and uneventful, work of hard rock/heavy metal which defies current mainstream trends with the best parts coming from guitarist, lyricist, and vocalist Kris' guitar skill.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lionville: Supernatural Album Review

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]