Tucson, AZ Progressive rock outfit Little King is unveiling “Dawn Villa,” the second single from their highly anticipated eighth studio album, “Lente Viviente.” A sonic time capsule wrapped in staccato riffs and melodic crescendos, “Dawn Villa” is a heartfelt tribute to frontman Ryan Rosoff’s formative years in Mercer Island, Washington, a place where memory, mischief, and music collide.
“Dawn Villa” continues Little King’s tradition of crafting “micro-epics”, songs that pack intricate arrangements and emotional depth into tight, sub-four-minute packages. With the exception of the sprawling “Pass Through Filters,” the album’s tracks are designed to be immersive yet digestible, inviting listeners to return again and again for a full-bodied audio experience.
From Dave’s slap-and-pop bass chaos to Tony’s quirky, thunderous drum fills, “Dawn Villa” is as fun to play as it is to hear. The song’s structure is a playground of rhythmic experimentation: start-stop guitar riffs, triple-tempo chorus variations, and a solo that’s more mood than shred. It all builds to a climactic breakdown featuring one of Rosoff’s most cherished and hilarious childhood memories. (If you know about the “deadly leaf,” you were probably there.)
The song is a lyrical love letter to Rosoff’s neighborhood of the same name, where he spent his youth from 1976 to 1990. With nods to lifelong friendships and local legends like NBA coach Quin Snyder and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Anne Rosellini, “Dawn Villa” captures the magic of growing up in a tight-knit community that still stays connected nearly five decades later.
Due out on September 26, 2025, “Lente Viviente” blends progressive and hard rock with infectious hooks and introspective lyrics.
“It’s an album that makes you think, makes you move, and might just make you hit ‘Add to Library’ before the final note fades,” adds Rosoff.
Watch and listen to the lyric video premiere for “Dawn Villa” via Ghost Cult Magazine HERE.
Digital pre-save – https://show.co/czXH8el
Recommended for fans of Rush, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, Muse, Led Zeppelin, Little King’s “Lente Viviente” is available for pre-order/digital pre-save (out Sept 26th) at https://show.co/nI24kSK
 |
Track Listing:
1. Catch and Release – 3:22
2. Dawn Villa – 3:42
3. Who’s Illegal? – 3:56
4. Kindness for Weakness – 3:21
5. Sweet Jessie James – 2:42
6. Pass Through Filters – 4:50
7. The Living Lens – 3:37
Album Length: 25:34
For more info: LittleKingtunes.com
“Overall, this band showcased a sophisticated sense of melodies that were not overly complicated, but easy to assimilate as well. Not being familiar with them, I am surprised to learn of their longevity, and you wouldn’t know this was their eight album, because the drive and fire in them is very much alive in their music. 8/10” – Metal Temple
“Tucson progressive rockers’ Little King are gearing up for the release of their 8th studio album, ‘Lente Viviente’ on Sept. 26th and have also just dropped their first single from the album, ‘Catch and Release’. This band truly pushes boundaries and yet makes modern prog rock very accessible. That is a difficult feat and a challenge many bands can’t overcome. But these fellas make it sound very simple, even though the music is quite complex. Similar to YES in that every instrument, including the vocals, all seem to be doing their own thing…but somehow it all works beautifully, and that is what good prog is about. Listen up for Little King on your Home for the Best New Rock… W-J-O-EEEE” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll
“Talk about the album as a whole, it’s one hell of an experience of Melodic Rock, with elements of metal, there is Power, Heaviness, Melodic, and a lot of progressive materials added to this album, making this an awesome release. The songwriting is something known from Little King, the album had is concept of writing from the Covid Situation of the last two years on the unrest in the US. A short album but very much listenable, especially for the fans of Little Rock, this is not something you want to miss.” – Metal Heads Forever Magazine (Amuse De Q – 2021)
“There are just some artists that when you sit down to chat to you soon realise that they are such great people that you’d love them as a friend. HEAVY Magazine’s Dave Griffiths recently discovered that when he sat down to chat to Ryan Rosoff the frontman of Little King.
The conversation not only got deep as they spoke about the band using the loneliness and depression they felt during the lockdowns into the songs on their new album, Amuse De Q, but then also swung around to another passion they both – Aussies in the NBA. Yes when you sit back to listen to this interview, be prepared to not only hear some talk about the legendary hard rock of Little King but also chat about Joe Ingles, Kyrie Irving and Patty Mills… oh and a lot of Brooklyn Nets talk.” – Heavy Mag (Amuse De Q – 2021)
“The measure of the album, and the band, are demonstrated for me on “Internal Smut”. The track is one of two instrumentals, although to be fair “Moving On” is more of an introduction to “Nineteen Strong”, into which it segues seamlessly. Not all rock bands can really hit hard with instrumentals, but Little King manage it with “Internal Smut”. It’s every bit as good as the last rock instrumental to make such an impression on me, Rush’s “The Main Monkey Business” from Snakes & Arrows. High praise indeed! Little King are not Rush – not yet at any rate – but in Legacy of Fools they have produced an album that fans of that band, and of others, will enjoy very much.” – Sea of Tranquilty (Legacy of Fools – 2008)
“Having put out four full length LPs and two EPs in 24 years, this latest offering, “Occam’s Foil”, is an entertaining five song piece that shows off a savvy awareness of the current state of affairs and has some fun showing off their musical and vocal prowess. This band defies genre typing. No two songs really fit the same mold. There’s a heavier rock song, one with Caribbean influences, an instrumental, a mid-tempo rocker, and one with a really nice string arrangement. This is a bold mixture that works well together, despite the obvious disparity. “Occam’s Foil”, is a bold piece of work put out in 2019 via Mad Bell Records…. This is very good record with something for everyone. 9/10″ – Metal-Temple (Occam’s Foil – 2019)
“In just these 5 tracks Little King is able to show listeners a glimpse of their musical reach. They are able to touch on a variety of musical sounds, while never sacrificing the authenticity of theirselves. This album as a whole may not be for everyone, but there are definitely tracks that anyone could enjoy, and coming from a 5 track EP that is quite the accomplishment. ” – You Make The Scene (Occam’s Foil – 2019)
Add Comment