Thought the days of rock operas like The Who’s Tommy and Pink Floyd’s The Wall were through? Think again! Residing Berliners and Australian natives, The Sunpilots, create their own take on the progressive idea on their concept album, King of the Sugarcoated Tongues. Raj Siva-Rajah (vocals), Bob Spencer (guitar), Andy Nielsen (drums), and Justin Kool (bass) construct a unique sound that begs to be made into a type of rock opera.
Spencer’s lack of power chord usage and tendencies toward more melodic lines as he riffs his way through the music allows a more spectacular show. Siva-Rajah’s intense, flexible vocals soar and dive through each track as he tells the story of a dystopian future that can only be saved by the youth. Although the album was not intended to be a rock opera, it holds many of the characteristics of those previously mentioned. The tracks are labeled as chapters, flowing from one to the next, allowing the music to go on a journey through the lives of the characters created for this world.
The Sunpilots have struck gold with their sophomore, full-length release. The story they create is reminiscent of Orwell’s 1984 and Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. The music is energetic and almost panic-ridden, mimicking the emotions their characters are experiencing. King of the Sugarcoated Tongues is an extremely well done album and deserves to be exposed to the world.
