When SkeetZo n’ Krysis first started surfacing in Murfreesboro venues, I thought the name, before I heard them, sounded to me like some shitty EDM-type endeavor for some reason. Instead, their self-titled album released this summer is a collection of heavy rock tracks interlaced with an innovative and amusing backstory to the band and its origins. SkeetZo and Krysis, in fact, are two shit-talking extraterrestrials who landed on earth and started playing music through a series of misadventures.

Opening track “The Origin” lays that story out, from SkeetZo and Krysis getting banished from their planet and sent out to find intelligent life in another galaxy to their crash landing on earth and subsequent merging with a human host—Michael Laster (guitar, vocals, keyboards). The dialogue is entertaining, particularly since the two aliens somehow have a twangy lilt, and the music is a mix of hard-rock and heavy-metal influences. There are also two recorded radio “interviews” on the album featuring SkeetZo and Krysis on WHOR Radio with host Lucy Goosey.

SkeetZo n’ Krysis have a good live set, particularly in the context of a TFG Productions event, but the recording is great for some insight into the band’s concept. Other members include Ian Garrett on bass, Mark McMahon on lead guitar, Barrett Alexander on drums.