Heavy Psych Sounds

Acid Mammoth – Supersonic Megafauna Collision Review

By Kenstrosity on April 9, 2024 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 31 comments

“For some, stoner doom is that comfort item, that thing that gets all the love just for being what it is. I imagine this is partly why the style largely hasn’t needed to evolve very much throughout its existence. In some ways, that’s a great thing, as it makes reaching for new bands in the scene a reliable bet. On the other hand, very little feels fresh, memorable or novel. For better or for worse, Greek stoner doom quartet Acid Mammoth’s fourth record Supersonic Megafauna Collision squarely falls into that safe, never-changing category.” With tusk and trunk.

Kadabra – Umbra Review

By Cherd on October 16, 2023 in Reviews, Stoner Rock, 13 comments

“Kadabra play a fairly stock standard fuzzed out stoner/psych rock heavily reliant on the 70s for aesthetic direction as well as contemporary revivalists like The Black Angels. Umbra has a bit more terrestrial than cosmic approach, with only a few distorted warping or echo effects, however Kadabra do use electric organ and layered vocals over their earthy guitar grooves.” Big hat, some magic.

Margarita Witch Cult – Margarita Witch Cult Review

By Crispy Hooligan on May 1, 2023 in Reviews, NWOBHM, Stoner Metal, 23 comments

“On this most Veridian of weeks, Margarita Witch Cult bursts into your pot den wielding a crème brûlée torch and a fifth of shitty tequila akimbo. The Brummie lads scoff at your bowl, sneer at your bong, and head straight for your dab rig. These aren’t your mellow stoners. No. Margarita Witch Cult is for fans of the murderously occult stylings of Green Lung, Orange Goblin, and Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats.” Drinks with cults.

Lüger – Revelations of the Sacred Skull Review

By Crispy Hooligan on February 15, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Speed Metal, 14 comments

“Montreal moshers Lüger have certainly taken their time crafting their follow-up to their 2018 debut, Hellraisers of the Waste. Such a long gestation between first and second albums often brings dark portents—with the infrequent exceptionally brilliant album. What such a gap most rarely brings is mediocrity. Revelations of the Sacred Skull squarely takes aim at Crispy’s heart with its blend of punk, trad, and doom, wrapped together in a delightfully sordid smut package.” Dead shot or major misfire?

Alunah – Strange Machine Review

By Crispy Hooligan on April 16, 2022 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 32 comments

“Birmingham-based Alunah returns with their fourth album—Strange Machine—and second since the departure of founding members Sophie and David Day. As originally formulated, Alunah played straightforward—albeit folk-tinged—doom metal. Perhaps the biggest difference from doom in the vein of Saint Vitus is Alunah’s penchant for the bounce and swing of early Black Sabbath’s heavy blues.” Rage against the Strange Machine.

Decasia – An Endless Feast for Hyenas Review

By Twelve on April 4, 2022 in Reviews, Stoner Rock, 9 comments

“As a reviewer who largely gets to pick my own assignments, I face a desire to branch out once in a while. Most of us like discovering new things, but it can be a little off-putting to follow up the discovery with a review, knowing that you may not be “getting” the concepts. For myself, I like the idea of stoner doom, rock, metal, or whatever you’d like to call it. The hazy, laid-back, ambient-but-not-quite music appeals to me. I’m not a particular fan of the genre—but every once in a while, I want to try. That is how I find myself here, reviewing An Endless Feast for Hyenas, the debut full-length release from France’s Decasia.” Mellow mauling.

Kadabra – Ultra Review

By Carcharodon on September 26, 2021 in Reviews, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 10 comments

“I used to listen to, and enjoy, heavy psych a lot. I’m beginning to wonder, however, whether the onset of mid-life (not yet a mid-life crisis, please note —emphasis on yet) may have biologically hindered my ability to enjoy the genre. I keep picking it up for review, perhaps in the hope of recapturing some younger version of myself, and steadily continue to dole out 2.0s or 2.5s. And while a low score a day, keeps the Angry Boss Ape away, it’s not very good for the soul, you know? So, I approached Spokane, Washington’s Kabadra more in hope, than expectation, of finding something for me.” Olde world problems.

Bongzilla – Weedsconsin Review

By Akerblogger on April 22, 2021 in Reviews, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 17 comments

“It’s high noon. Sweet Mary Jane is at the wheel. Her best bud Bongzilla is in the passenger seat. Master of Reality is rattling through the truck’s rusty speakers. The sun is setting. They’ve hit the jackpot. After sixteen years in a distant haze, Bongzilla is back. Muleboy (bass/vocals), Spanky (guitar) and Magma (drums) have awoken from their dazed slumber. Sixteen years is like sixty years in stoner time and a lot has changed. For one, the recreational use of cannabis has been legalized in many more states. Bongzilla is still on a mission for fweedom, however.” Weed the children.

Mondo Generator – Fuck It Review

By Carcharodon on February 21, 2020 in 2020, American Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Psych Sounds Records, Punk, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Hard Rock, Punk, 23 comments

“It’s hard to say why I grabbed Mondo Generator’s subtly titled Fuck It from the promo bin but, if you’re putting me on the spot, I think excitement probably got the better of me. Not, I should be clear, excitement because I love Mondo Generator – I do not – but simply the excitement of seeing a band I had actually heard of, which had not already been snapped up by one of the nimbler reviewers. The brainchild of Nick Oliveri – and sometimes also known as Nick Oliveri’s Mondo Generator – of Kyuss, Dwarves and Queens of the Stone Age fame (among others), Mondo Generator has been around for quite a while.” Bad attitude.

Giobia – Plasmatic Idol Review

By Emya on February 7, 2020 in 2020, Heavy Psych Sounds Records, Italian Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, 8 comments

“”3, 2, 1, 0…All engines running. Liftoff!” The first arpeggiated synth of Giobia’s new album Plasmatic Idol rings out and jettisons me into space. In keeping with the space theme, the title of the opening track, “Parhelion,” refers to the shimmering spot in the sky which appears on either side of the sun as a result of the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals in Earth’s atmosphere. Giobia are definitely not n00bs to the space rock genre.” Starry eyes.