Welcome to Sky Valley


Welcome to Sky Valley is the third studio album by American stoner rock band Kyuss, released on June 28, 1994, through Elektra Records.
Welcome to Sky Valley was the band's first album to feature bassist Scott Reeder, who replaced Nick Oliveri in 1992. The album was also the last to feature founding member Brant Bjork, who left the band shortly after recording concluded. The song "N.O." was originally recorded by Across the River, a band fronted by Mario Lalli and featuring bassist Reeder. After Reeder left the Obsessed and joined Kyuss, Bjork suggested they record "N.O." as a tribute to Across the River.

Background and recording

Welcome to Sky Valley was recorded in early 1993 and scheduled for release in January 1994. They sneak-previewed the completed album at Foundations Forum 93 and contributed the song "Demon Cleaner" to the sampler disc. Due to mild success from their previous album, Kyuss had been promoted from their subsidiary record label "Dali" to the main label "Chameleon". On November 11, 1993, Chameleon Records abruptly shut down. Their joint-venture partner Elektra Records quickly picked up the band and scheduled the album for release in March 1994. The album was released three months after that, a year after being recorded.

Release history

On CD, Welcome to Sky Valley was originally released with its ten total songs contained in three tracks, with an additional, fourth hidden track. It was later re-released with all ten tracks separated individually.

Musical style

Musically, Welcome to Sky Valley has been described as a stoner rock album. According to Eduardo Rivadavia of Loudwire, the album's tracks "spun waves of feedback like expanding nebulae." Writing for AllMusic, Rivadavia also stated that the album's songs display "the band's impressive creative range, from furious metal to psychedelic grooves, and anything in between."

Legacy

The band Tool covered "Demon Cleaner" live twice, with bassist Scott Reeder joining them onstage during the performances: March 27, 1998, in Los Angeles, California, at The Hollywood Palladium, March 29, 1998, in San Diego, California, at The Rimac Theatre.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Kyuss
Additional performers
Production
Artwork