King Night
by Salem
  • Record Label: Iamsound
  • Release Date: Sep 28, 2010
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
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  1. PopMatters
    Dec 14, 2010
    50
    It's been a hella long time coming and may, ultimately, be about as soul curdling as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but Salem's first blood King Night is still an enjoyably daft crypt kicker.
  2. Rolling Stone
    60
    With a backstory that includes gas-station hooking and heroin addiction, Michigan electro-extremists Salem are spooky straightaway. Then their quicksand sound sucks you down.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Dec 21, 2010
    50
    The rest of King Night is, for the most part, similarly forgettable.
  5. Spin
    40
    Seedy, feel-bad music. Half-dead, sometimes gorgeous, and willfully dumb beyond repair. Call it alienation porn. Sound awful? Well, it is kind of awful--and rivetingly so.
  6. Clash Music
    60
    Rave horns echo like WW2 sirens being played on a fucked-up ghetto blaster while the cast of House Of 1000 Corpses do their best Gucci Mane impressions--an interesting, if perhaps slightly contrived, oddity.
  7. Dusted Magazine
    40
    This is not a one-hit wonder situation, or even an album with only one good song. With King Night, Salem exhausts all its resources in a singular moment, which leaves the rest of the record to suffer through its own paralysis and mediocrity.
  8. Tiny Mix Tapes
    40
    As the Chicagoan trio defines it on their debut album King Night, witch-house is a curious blend of aesthetics.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. julian
    Oct 10, 2010
    9
    For me the album of the year in an exceptional year, because of a whole raft of reasons. It sounds obvious but the range of influences is soFor me the album of the year in an exceptional year, because of a whole raft of reasons. It sounds obvious but the range of influences is so contemporary and original. Seems a blur of Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Crystal Castles, wigged out dubstep, hiphop, JJ, electro, Gary Newman and even the Cocteau Twins. Like MIA's Kala it seems to the years most "now" release. Ive been flogging this album and How to Dress Well's debut to death and am surprised by Pitchforks low score for this - it will always be divisive - theyre both great albums but Salem shade How to Dress Well, it must be one of the most glaring omissions from Pitchforks 'best new music' tag this year. Really interesting outfit, even the ugly stupid rap parts seem to add to the idiosyncrasy. I don't think this is getting the kudos for the consistency of the tracks, all are worthwhile and most very good to excellent, def one of the top ten releases of a stellar year.… Full Review »
  2. actuallymevisus
    Aug 9, 2016
    8
    This album sound good. It's truly witch house and I'm f**king in love with it. Waiting for #S4LEM2
    Hope that guys will return with a fresh    This album sound good. It's truly witch house and I'm f**king in love with it. Waiting for #S4LEM2
    Hope that guys will return with a fresh mind and cool songs, also waiting for a new vids    … Full Review »
  3. hydrawithears
    Oct 2, 2011
    10
    Prepare yourself for one of the gloomiest albums youâ
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