Silverships - "Kingdom of Decay"
It's quite possible that you've already heard me singing the praises of Silverships, an extraordinarily creative stoner/psych trio from Hamburg, and for good reason. This band has an incredible knack for turning their sophisticated brand of stoner rock into the most vivid soundscapes: weaving tales and setting scenes that you can see and feel as much as you can hear. Silverships' rich sound has been likened to that of Queens of the Stone Age meets Pink Floyd, with psych-pop notes reminiscent of Tame Impala and the moody psychedelic feel of The Doors.
The first time I heard Silverships was an unforgettable experience: I was lying on the beach on a gorgeous July afternoon, mentally drifting away as their debut single Kingdom of Decay wafted through my headphones. The hypnotically deep tones of the bass kept me grounded as kaleidoscopic psych rock guitar danced with the sunbeams atop the water, the cymbals crashed along with the waves, and the silky-smooth vocals both lulled me and kept me unshakably invested in thought-provoking narratives. The result was the ultimate meditative mental journey: pure bliss.
Naturally, I had to hear more of this band, so I was thrilled to learn that Silverships was gearing up to release their debut EP, Kingdom of Decay, on November 22, 2024. Prior to the album release, the band released a second single, Nevermore, which offered an entirely different yet equally compelling sound (in fact, I rhapsodized all about that here). Now, I'm thrilled to announce that the wait is over, and Kingdom of Decay is here!
"Stephanie," I hear you sigh as you scan this article to estimate how long it will take you to read through my excessive wordiness, "you've done it again. You've written far too many words, and this time about a four-track EP. What gives?"
Listen. I love EPs. They very often provide such a powerful, concentrated snapshot of a band's creative outlook, the heart of what makes them tick. EPs rarely have filler tracks, and the tracks that are present are regularly quite different to each other, each taking unique expressive pathways and/or exploring various styles of music.
Also, I love this band.
As it turns out, Silverships has provided the epitome of such an EP with Kingdom of Decay, each track utilizing unique methods of storytelling as scenes beautifully unfurl and lodge themselves in your heart and mind.
Without further ado, let's get into Kingdom of Decay track by track:
Kingdom of Decay
1.) Kingdom of Decay
I described title track Kingdom of Decay a bit in the intro (I just couldn't help myself), but its glowing characteristics merit repeating. Delightfully mellow to start, Kingodom of Decay begins with a steadfast but grooving bassline that underscores a more delicate, psychedelic style guitar with velvety, melodic vocals gliding above. By the end of the second chorus, stoner/desert grit makes itself known and begins to crescendo until, by the song's end, the listener is immersed in a whirlwind of fuzzy riffs, crashing drums, and rollicking bass. As a band points out in their EPK, this effect has a tendency to "enourage subtle headbanging", which is exactly what I'm compelled to do each time I listen. In short, Kingdom of Decay offers the best of both mellow psych and stoner/desert energy, creating an experience that's both relaxing and spirited.
Lyrically, this song creates some interesting metaphorical scenarios that can be either taken at face value or left up to listener interpretation. In the first verse, a fleeting, but memorable meeting of a stranger occurs, and kindness is shown to the narrator during a vulnerable time. The second verse describes a queen who suddenly leaves her subjects (possibly the same person described in the first verse, or a new attachment? Suspense...). These are seemingly very simple verses, but quite a lot can be derived from them. Personally, I'm reminded of the vital role that other people play in our lives, whether we want to admit it or not. Sometimes we're magnetically drawn to relative strangers for reasons simple enough, perhaps a soft gaze, a comforting smile, or a small act of kindness. Even though we may only see them for a second, we remember them and may even evoke their image from time to time. Conversely, there are others we know quite well and grow very reliant upon, their mere presence creating a sense of contentment. When they leave our lives for whatever reason, we're often left floundering, trying to find a "new normal". The psych-dominant flow of Kingdom of Decay is reminiscent of this mental process: blissful contentment followed by confusion and ending with a barrage of emotions.
2.) Beast
Beast is a much darker song. There are no placating, illusory dream clouds as there were in the beginning of Kingdom of Decay. Beast is packed with percussive, almost strident rhythms, foreboding bass, and alternatively wailing and crunchy guitar. All of this works together to create a tremendous amount of anticipation.
Interestingly, rather than outrunning a proverbial beast, the lyrics pertain to a beast within. According to the band, it specifically refers to calling upon "'beast mode' as a protective shield against everlasting fear." The repetition of the phrase "Take the wheel and drive, get me out of here alive" in the chorus drives this point home, signaling not only a reliance upon this inner beast but total submission to it, a scenario relatable to many.
After listening to this EP, there will be no doubt in your mind that Silverships are the masters of building in their music, and that certainly holds true on Beast. Beginning with a fearful, apprehensive mood, the beast has completely taken the reins by the second half of the song, as it becomes increasingly chaotic. After the final throaty shriek of "Get me out of here alive!" the vocals switch to a spoken word whisper, barely discernible over the turbulent instrumentals. This is seemingly the voice of the beast within, and the transition is now complete.
3.) Nevermore
As in Beast, Nevermore tackles the subject of fear, but from a different perspective and with a more victorious ending. In fact, an entire drama plays out before our ears here about a harrowing battle with a proverbial demon that ends in a dramatic climax. Stoner rock is present in the gritty riff that glides over the pummeling drums, reminiscent of the subject's quickening heartbeat. The vocals give their most theatrical performance yet, culminating with the repetition of "The power of love compels you!" where the tone moves from matter of fact to utterly unhinged. The vocals also have a post punk sound in many places, giving the song a goth veneer that works very well with the subject matter at hand.
A sudden lull followed by triumphant, soaring lead guitar and confident vocals stating, "I won't be yours no more, nevermore", are more than enough to inform us that love has triumphed over fear. The distinct changes of pace, tone, and style utilized on Nevermore give it a progressive rock framework that gels very well with its backbone of stoner rock. The song in its entirety is a palpable rollercoaster of emotion that the listener can easily relate to their own personal encounters with a demon, whatever (or whoever) that may be.
Beast and Nevermore are the songs on Kingdom of Decay that give me the strongest Queens of the Stone Age vibes, less so for their sound, but more for their composition. Similarly to QOTSA, Silverships displays an adeptness and confidence in creating songs that explore some of the darker sides of humanity by successfully utilizing a more performative and experimental style.
4.) War is Over
War is Over is the longest track on Kingdom of Decay and it ends the EP on a hauntingly beautiful note. It stands out in stark contrast to the previous three songs, with a soft and dreamy start that feels like a disconnect from reality. In this way, it travels full circle back to the beginning of the title track. Cool and mesmeric psychedelic tones, Pink Floyd-esque progressive stylings, and soothing vocals give way to the emotive wailing guitar by the song's end that is somehow as unsure as it is triumphant. Overall, this song has a way of raising more questions than answers, ending on a cliffhanger. Is the war really over? Or was this song conjured up as more of a method of dissociation, a self-soothing technique? At least in our minds, we can sail away to a place where everything is peaceful and familiar.
Final Thoughts
First off, and perhaps most importantly, the level of sophistication and artfulness of Kingdom of Decay and Silverships as a band truly blow my mind. So much ground is covered in these four tracks, and no two songs are alike, let alone similar. Best of all, as alluded to earlier, each of these songs spins a unique yarn, sometimes in a more metaphorical way, others very straightforward. Silverships states in their EPK that Kingdom of Decay could be the "soundtrack to a movie yet to be written", and I couldn't agree more. The vocals and instrumentals work together flawlessly to accomplish this feeling. The instrumentals utilize some of the best characteristics of progressive, psychedelic, stoner, desert, and alternative rock and are ever adaptive. The vocals, meanwhile, are truly theatrical in the best way, capable of portraying various characters and expressing a limitless variety of moods and emotions, shifting dulcet to crazed at the drop of a hat. The result is an EP that will captivate you from start to finish, playing out like the most spellbinding cinema.
You know how you'll have a really great and very specific idea but sometimes struggle to express it? Silverships seemingly have no such roadblocks. In fact, they express ideas in a way that is both crystal clear yet poetic and nuanced. One of the most impressive things to me is that three individual musicians can come together with their own interpretations and influences yet still create something so cohesive and powerful, all while giving us some insanely infectious stoner rock music.
If these four gorgeous tracks are a window into what Silverships is capable of as a band, I can't even fathom what they have in store for their next release. Regardless of what's next, this band has my utmost respect and admiration, as well as my unwavering support.
More About Silverships
Silverships Is:
Nils Kock - Guitar, Vocals
Jan Gehrmann - Bass
Tim Schröter - Drums
You can order the gorgeous magenta-colored vinyl for Kingdom of Decay from Tonzonen Records at this link!
You can follow Silverships and listen to their music at the following links:
A massive thank you to Creative Eclipse PR for the promo, and thanks to Silverships for being super cool dudes!
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