Welcome to Sky Valley (also known as Sky Valley and Kyuss) is the third studio album by American stoner rock band Kyuss, released on June 28, 1994, through Elektra Records.
Welcome to Sky Valley was the band's first album to feature bassist Scott Reeder, who replaced Nick Oliveri in 1992. The album was also the last to feature founding member Brant Bjork, who left the band shortly after recording concluded. The song "N.O." was originally recorded by Across the River, a band fronted by Mario Lalli and featuring bassist Reeder. After Reeder left the Obsessed and joined Kyuss, Bjork suggested they record "N.O." as a tribute to Across the River.
Background and recording
Welcome to Sky Valley was recorded in early 1993 and scheduled for release in January 1994. They sneak-previewed the completed album at Foundations Forum 93 and contributed the song "Demon Cleaner" to the sampler disc. and stoner metal album. According to Eduardo Rivadavia of Loudwire, the album's tracks "spun waves of feedback like expanding nebulae." Writing for AllMusic, Rivadavia also stated that the album's songs display "the band's impressive creative range, from furious metal to psychedelic grooves, and anything in between." with bassist Scott Reeder joining them onstage during the performances: March 27, 1998, in Los Angeles, California, at The Hollywood Palladium, March 29, 1998, in San Diego, California, at The Rimac Theatre.
The English heavy rock band Sky Valley Mistress named themselves after Welcome to Sky Valley.
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Kyuss
- John Garcia – lead vocals, producer
- Josh Homme – guitar, backing vocals, producer
- Scott Reeder – bass, acoustic bass in "Space Cadet", backing vocals, producer
- Brant Bjork – drums, producer
Additional performers
- Peter Moffett – additional percussion on "Asteroid"
- "Madman of Encino" – backing vocals
- Mario Lalli – lead guitar on "N.O."
Production
- Chris Goss – producer
- Joe Barresi – recording engineer, mixing engineer
- Jeff Sheehan – assistant engineer
- Wade Norton – assistant engineer
- Alexe Campbell – assistant engineer
- Brian Jenkins – additional engineering
- Eddy Schreyer – mastering engineer
Artwork
- Alex Solca – photography
- Skiles – art director
Charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for Welcome to Sky Valley
!Chart (1994)
!Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)
| 53
|-
|}