Matthew Followill, Kings Of Leon (Photo: Live4ever Media)
Kings Of Leon have admitted they didn’t enjoy recording their fifth album ‘Come Around Sundown‘.
In a chat with the Metro, guitarist Matthew and bass player Jared explained how a claustrophobic atmosphere in the studio began a troubled period for the group which eventually came to a-head at the other end of the album’s life when touring duties were close to being completed.
“Making ‘Come Around Sundown’ was just not fun,” Matthew remembered. “We were in a tiny studio in New York, there was too much alcohol around all day – I’m just glad we made it back together.”
“There was definitely an internal struggle – you couldn’t even say ‘radio airplay’ without Caleb getting angry,” Jared continued. “We’d been called sell-outs after ‘Sex On Fire’. He didn’t want people to think that was all we’d tried to do.”
“We were tired and we’d keep working,” explained frontman Caleb of the US tour cancellation. “Finally, your body says: ‘You’re done’.”
By contrast, the band have been unanimous in their belief that the sessions for new LP ‘Mechanical Bull‘, out on Monday (September 23rd), were far more relaxed and enjoyable.
“Fake rats, gun caps popping everywhere,” Jared has said. “We basically goofed off the entire time.”