Hydrogen Skyline - Hey Sly King Drone

Hydrogen Skyline

Hey Sly King Drone
self-released; 2015

3.6 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Hydrogen Skyline isn’t wasting any time making music. Last August they released Only Shy Deer King, which was followed up by a deluxe version and then most recently they released Hey Sly King Drone. The thing is with all these releases is that they all kind of blend into each other. Hey Sly King Drone actually contains a number of songs that were on the deluxe version of Only Shy Deer King but here they are remixes. 

The band consisting of Asher Skyline (vocals), Mark Young  (guitars) and Norman Skyline  (keys/synth) are headed in the right direction with Hey Sly King Drone. On Only Shy Deer King they were a guitar heavy band that could be categorized as melding metal and rock. The majority of the songs on Hey Sly King Drone leave out the guitars and replace them with synths and electronic drums. It works- really works - and the band can draw loose comparisons to Chvrches and The Chromatics.

The first track “Shadows” is a solid opener that you could make a case for being the radio ready single. It contains a catchy verse but the hook will sink its teeth into you. Asher Skyline’s vocals are at the center of the mix and ultimately carry the song. 

“The Sly” is where we start getting introduced to the dance-based electronic music. The song contains guitars but the steady huge sounding kick drum makes the song club ready. “The Sly” can sit along “867-5309/Jenny” for spouting off phone numbers. In fact she may have been listing too many numbers at points.

The next three songs are all remixes, which are electronically based. I thought the highlight was “Relentless (Victory Remix),” which combines synths and pads with Asher Skyline’s most memorable hook. “Over Tonight (Paradise Remix)” was right up there for highlight of the album as the energy-fueled song has a slightly ominous feel but sounds good on the band. 

“the Leaving (Movie Soundscape Version)” closes out the EP and is the most emotionally resonant song of the five. It had a bit of a new age feel to it but it didn’t feel cheesy. 

Hey Sly King Drone is the best effort from the band yet. If they continue with this trajectory good things are bound to happen. 

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