CKY: THE PHOENIX

SCORE: 67/100

Losing Deron Miller kind of took away the band really sounding like themselves, but the instrumentation of this album acts as a saving grace before it became unsalvageable. It's clear that the band technically could've kept going without Miller, but it really shows why they chose not to keep recording albums after the release of 'The Phoenix' in 2017'. This album isn't bad by any means, but it doesn't sound how you would expect a CKY album to in a way that isn't quite as welcomed as their other more experimental projects.

Ginsburg acts well enough as the new front/vocalist for the band, but it makes this album sound less like a CKY album and more like an album by a different band entirely. This isn't a horrible thing by any means, but this album is lacking considerably when compared to their previous works. 'Carver City' was the start of the band having less memorability in their music, and this album is good for what it is - but it isn't as great as it very well could've been.

Continuing after a bandmate leaves can be hard for some bands, and CKY took quite the hit losing Miller due to how much his voice added to their projects. The quality of the instrumentals is the same as it is on their other albums, but 'The Phoenix' lacks the same spark that their other projects brought to the table.

'The Phoenix' is their shortest album to date, but it is also their least interesting both sound and structure-wise. The overall sound of this album isn't bad by any means, but it doesn't feel like CKY almost at all. Their sound still feels like the rock trends of the 90s and 2000s which helps them keep the consistency that they had locked down, but this album feels like it is lacking a crucial element; and it is.

There are some worthwhile moments that keep this album enjoyable, and it isn't a bad project - but it just lacks the general charm that the band's other albums has to offer. There's something for fans of CKY to enjoy within this album without a doubt, but it just isn't the same without Miller - and it simply cannot be the same without him contributing.

It's a solid enough return to form after some losses taken by the band, but it doesn't live up to the bar that they had set out as a band. There is a striking distinction between this album and their others, and it's almost too noticeable.




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