Only By the Night

iTunes Review

As the Followill brothers (and cousin Matthew) grow up their sound matures in unexpected ways. Their first releases promoted a group tough on guitars and infatuated with a southern-slinging garage rock; their more recent work has turned its ears towards an anthemic arena rock that singer Caleb Followill embraces with the messianic streak of Bono himself (or at least the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson). “Use Somebody” twirls in a splashing of guitar riffs and reverb-ed atmospherics, the backing vocals merging with the indistinct drones of the wispy keyboards. “Manhattan” most directly recalls the soulful screed of the Crowes’ Chris Robinson, while the band show unusual restraint leaving silences and space where they once would’ve come out with all guns drawn. By expanding their influences and options, Kings of Leon, for better and worse, have left their roots behind. The primitive, angry growls have turned to pensive moments of calm introspection (“Revelry,” “Cold Desert”). When they do ramp things up, it’s with a jazzy precision as “Crawl” and “Sex on Fire” employ a musical intricacy that would’ve been unthinkable back in the days of Youth and Young Manhood. It’s this band’s natural evolution, but there’s no denying it’s a shock to the system.