In six days the lord made heaven and earth, on the seventh day he rested to give him the energy to create Dark Knights Of Camelot from the best bits of Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and late ’60s garage psychedelia. Dark Knights of Camelot are one of those bands that give you goose pimples and suddenly make all other bands and music redundant.
The Devil Has The Best Tuna
Mississippi based grunge heavy rockers Dark Knights of Camelot turn in a nice debut record of hypnotic grungy stoner rock.
Smother Magazine
Mississippi three piece Dark Knights of Camelot have created something impressive here. There’s nothing remotely “Joy Division” about them, which is a refreshing turn of events in today’s rock marketplace and cause for celebration in itself. Instead, they seem to have spent more than a few hours studying the Josh Homme approach to guitar playing and the singer seems to be cultivating a pretty decent Kurt Cobain impression, only with less throat-shedding guttural screaming involved, which again is rather pleasant. Queens Of The Stone Age’s Rated R album would be the closest example to what kind of sound these guys are aiming for, but the Dark Knights aren’t as manic as the Queens. Sure, you’d probably like to have a night on the tiles with both bands, but where QOTSA always give you the feeling that things may turn violent at any moment, a night with the Dark Knights would probably end up with a bunch of man hugs and a kebab on the way home. That still sounds good though, don’t you think? Well it is, it’s just not quite as exciting and life threatening. The Hurricane EP is a good, solid, tub thumping rock record though and it impresses from start to finish. Ok, it’s an EP and there are only five tracks so it hasn’t really got time to outstay its welcome, but there’s a good chance you’ll want to give it another spin as soon as it finishes.
The Dark Knights are fast, sharp and they can be ferocious at times, but there’s a great subtlety to the way they handle their arrangements too. Especially on closing track Luster Lack, which is part ballad, part full on wig-out and has more false endings than Return Of The King. It’s anthemic in ways that most indie bands try for years to perfect and never get anywhere near pulling off. It’s a marvel of a song and deserves to be heard in big, cavernous arenas the world over. At the end of the day all that’s left to say is that the Dark Knights Of Camelot are bloody good and if you like your rock hard and in no way EMO related, then you should run hell for leather to your latest independent record retailer and demand a copy of this little gem.
Bright Sparks indeed, King Arthur would be proud.
Damian Leslie
Incendiary Magazine
Dark Knights of Camelot fit nicely into the classic rock revivalist category with big crunchy power chords and thunder god style percussion. If you’ve got a Trans Am with t-tops, you’re going to love it. (That is intended as a complement, obviously. Who among us that grew up in the 80s doesn’t wish they rolled into the office in the car from Smokey and the Bandit?) We’re going to ride into the sunset with “Purple Undertones” cranking; the rest of the EP, Hurrication, is of similar quality and well worth checking out. Dudes are from Mississippi and recorded three quarters of the thing live to preserve their raucous energy. Good times.
Citizen Dick
Brian
New Dark Knights of Camelot. Delightfully choppy, full-throttle alt. rock. Edgy, pounding noise, like hammering nails with a steel mallet.
Mastertibe
Brian Truitt
The lead singer of Dark Knights of Camelot has the blasé Kurt Cobain mumble-and-gritty to his yells. The band’s music is grunge-inspired, creeping stoner rock with fuzzy-fat bass, slow and hypnotic rhythms, and easy fluid melodies.
Creative Loafing
If there's one thing we love like fuck here in the plush office suites at babysue, it is big, thick, fuzzy, overdriven guitars. And that's just what we got when we shoved the latest EP from Dark Knights of Camelot into our CD player. This Hattiesburg, Mississippi-based trio plays big ballsy rock/pop with aggressive ballpower. Everything sounds like it was recorded in the red...and the songs absolutely kick ass. Although this EP only presents five tracks, all five are pretty incredible...and left us totally hungry for more. Killer hard rock cuts include "Wanna Be," "I'd Rather Be," and "Luster Lack." We can't wait to hear what these guys will do on a full-length effort...! Recommended. (Rating: 5++)
Babysue
The Hurrication EP, a collection of 5 magnificent songs, provides a fresh new sound differing from many of today's copycat bands. Their psychedelic hard rock sound reminisces of Pink Floyd but has a modern feel to it.
Kiwi Reviews
The resulting five-song “Hurrication EP” is remarkably strong. A gritty, moody rock tone permeates the album and is a complementary contrast to the precise rhythmic changes and intelligent construction of each song. Shea frequently sings in a deep druggish voice, but he can still summon an earnest line and a commanding scream. The sound’s most immediate relative is early- to mid-’90s rock, but with more complexity and structure.
Jackson Free Press
Lindsey Maddox
Dark Knights Of Camelot is a band that Conrad Noir saw somewhere a while back and he couldn’t stop gushing about their show afterward. They’re a combination of Queens Of The Stone Ago (the aspects of that group that I like, he assured me, since there’s a lot of aspects of them that I don’t like) and Dinosaur, Jr. “They’re really, really fucking good,” he told me and he shared with me their EP that he bought. “Of course they’re better in concert though,” he said. “Of course,” I said. “Of course,” he repeated.
Counter-Force
That Ben Shea is a painfully shy, Southern Gothic shoegazer guitarist. He's got all the signs of brilliance. Or of psychosis. DKOC seems to bring out the best of both worlds.
Kids with Guns!
Dark Knights of Camelot are a trio that have a huge sound that you MUST experience. I love when musicians get so into the show that they start knocking shit over, like a keyboard, or beat their drums so hard the bass drum moves away from them and the cymbals start sliding down from the force. I mean honestly, that guy beat his drums like a pimp beats a ho for their money.
Pop Rock Candy Mountain
Emily
Driving rock from Mississippi that's sometimes erratic and sometimes solemnly melodic, recalling various bits of '90s college radio underground.
Flagpole
The Dark Knights of Camelot have a straightforward power-pop style without any pretense, but they don't forget to give listeners a melody.
hey you guys!i didnt forget about those pics my computer isnt getting internet right now so it may take a little while.but i had fun while you guys were here you guys should play here again soon.
Hate I missed the 4th at Boondocks! I was supposed to be in the dunking booth, but gallbladder failure kept me away...but if I can help it, NEVER AGAIN! A lil but of the Burg up in Tupelo...Thank you Guys!! See ya'll soon!
Ya know, I loved seeing ya'll play on the 4th! It made up for my shitty night at work. Wish you could've kicked it instead of hitting the road. And the new poster rocks, as well. Catch you next time! - TASHA
much appreciated. let me know about that show the 22nd and i'll shoot you a message about a show up here. the guitar on luster lack is sick as fuck by the way
Hey guys, I met you in Little 5 Points Saturday night and you gave me a free cd. which is seriously awesome. You plan on coming back to Atlanta anytime soon?
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