Little King “Lente Viviente “(LP)

Lente Viviente by Little King, is their eighth studio album, and if they need any introduction in this saturated era of indie music, the group consist of Ryan Rosoff (guitar and vocals), David Hamilton (bass and cello), and Tony Bojorquez (drums). This power trio are El Paso, TX based, but Rosoff originates from Seattle, and their sound encompasses Prog rock inclinations with some metal and even some of that grungy alternative 90s feel. Not to be confused with full-on Prog, but they maintain an overall progressive rock approach, with no nonsense vocals/lyrics telling it like it is post-pandemic on this album with songs all about where we stand as a society, currently and throughout time.

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Little King’s influences are strongly felt in modern and classic Prog rock, ranging from Rush to Led Zeppelin, but they clearly have their own blend of these genres and subgenres. “Catch And Release” opens the disc with a strong combo of Progressive Rock and metal with complex melodies and time changes topped off with a heartfelt (at times) vocal by Rosoff, harking all the way back to the 80s. They know just how to kick an album off by now, which comes as no surprise, and this comes with a video clip to promote it.

The second track “Dawn Villa” (also comes with a video clip), is a song with more complex arrangements, with a little less energy and enthusiasm according to the subject matter. It’s just a lot darker than the previous vibes, but none the less adventurous, and overall production values on Lente Viviente are good, so it doesn’t slip anywhere. “Who’s Illegal” tackles the obvious topic of immigration in modern times, but on this this one, Rosoff and company switch it up on a melancholy tune with an AOR Prog weight level with intricate acoustic lines.

“Kindness For Weakness” explores the current socio-political landscape, even though it’s always been a thing to mistake kindness for weakness. This is another vocally heartfelt moment in the studio by Rosoff, and this one has a clear music and vocal nod to Rush and other Prog bands. It just plays that trusty way rock fans are seasoned for, and if I were to pick a favorite track on Lente Viviente, this would be one of them, as it embodies everything Little King seem to be about when assessing their extensive catalog.

“Sweet Jesse James” with a song about things being what we make them, and it’s an ascending ride through Rosoff’s narrative, but it’s also as short as it is sweet and leads the way to the next track without any hesitation. “Pass through Filters” is probably the biggest Prog moment, with a song based around the drawbacks of addiction and modern medication. This is also a Rush influenced song in more ways than one, as it serves to pay homage to such heroes, without losing their own original touch. The Lente Viviente album ends on a sobering note, wrapping up the whole concept with “The Living Lens” in which it looks through.

Mark Druery