Stoner /Psych
Magnetic Eye Records
Release Date – September 27th 2024
Line Up:
Phil Hey – Vocals/Guitar
Martin Wiseman – Guitar/Backing Vocals
Ian ‘Izak’ Buxton – Bass
Scott Frankling – Drums
Tracklist:
1 – Jasmine
2 – Lets Go
3 – Smoke
4 – Cut Loose
5 – Topanga
6 – Kaleidoscope
7 – Split
8 – Magic Carpet
I have made no secret of my love for Psychlona. They truly give me everything I want: big riffs, melodic vocals, and huge grooves. I’ve been lucky enough to review all three of their previous records, and they just keep getting better. This new one is an absolute belter with more of everything. Maybe that’s due to the two new members, Martin Wiseman and Ian Buxton, who were both secured from Lazurus Blackstar.
Drummer Scott Frankling hits a simple beat that opens “Jasmine”, with bassist Buxton joining in before the guitars of Wiseman and Phil Hey chime in. They get going on a robust riff and solid groove. Hey has an understated voice, much like Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, which juxtaposes with the weight of the music, similar to Chris Goss from Masters of Reality. Plus, his vocal melodies are expert and catchy. Towards the end, things get properly psychy before returning to the groove, and Wiseman shows his chops.
“Let’s Go” takes its time to get going. Frankling’s hi-hat and a chiming guitar set the stage before Buxton comes in for a few bars. Then they kick into another mighty groove, drifting off into a huge cloud of sickly-sweet blue smoke for another psych adventure—come back soon, boys. They return with news from beyond on “Smoke”, a laid-back Floydian piece perfect for closing your eyes and getting lost in the melodies. “Cut Loose” brings us back to our senses with a rolling desert rock banger, then “Topanga” gets low and slow, but what a mighty groove.
Things are going to get psychy on a song called “Kaleidoscope”, but just let it take you where it wants to go, and you’ll be grateful. Hey delivers a hypnotic spoken-word segment before they grind out a big, simple riff that gets you nodding. Relax and roll one, because “Split” is a sublime piece of stoner/psych that blends Floyd and Sabbath influences. The final cut, “Magic Carpet”, starts with a smooth, jazzy intro reminiscent of Sabbath’s experiments but quickly moves into crushing power chords on the chorus. Wait for the monumental outro.
I honestly cannot tell you how good this record is. Psychlona have knocked it totally out of the park. They’ve expanded and developed on their previous records, creating something really special here. The ideas are well-conceived, deceptively simple, and expertly executed. Add this to the fabulous production by Andy Hawkins and James Grover, who have preserved the gritty, earthy sounds of the band. You can’t go wrong with this, and I predict it will propel them further up the ladder. I wish I could give it an 11!
Written by: Smudge
Ratings: 10/10
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