WILDLIGHTS  released their debut, self-titled album on August 21^st, 2015. The North Carolina duo is comprised of Johnny Collins (no, not the dead folk singer) of THUNDERLIP! and Jason Shi of ASG. Both Collins and Shi have been playing a hard-rock, Southern influenced Metal sound in their respective bands for years and have taken time in between performances and recordings to work on WILDLIGHTS. Both of their other bands have similar styles to one another, so I would have expected WILDLIGHTS to be similar as well, but the project has a completely original sound.

The album has more of a Desert-Rock vibe with long, hypnotic riffs and clean vocals that roll steadily and fluid through the entire album. The vocals are very unique and are the reason the album sits so well with me. Collins is no Opera singer but his range is still great and he possesses just the right amount of imperfection to make WILDLIGHTS truly unique. The sound quality is top-notch and is full of surprises like subtle fades and a few odd vocal effects. The quality of the sound is due in part to WILDLIGHTS having production help from Matt Hyde who previously worked with bands like SLAYER, and PORNO FOR PYROS, among many other great bands. WILDLIGHTS is an easy band to put on and just chill out with, there is no gimmick with them or heavy-handed lyrics and they don't over-saturate their music with solos.

The album is less Jack Daniels and more cup of coffee, not to say that they are slow or boring, there is a definite bite to their sound but I found it to me more relaxing than anything. WILDLIGHTS is a unique Rock experience, a little serenity mixed with just enough grungy elements, a very easy album to lose yourself in.