Dungeon Weed to Release Mind Palace of the Mushroom God LP on Forbidden Place Records
There comes a time in everyone’s life, I think, when you have to sit back, look at the big picture and understand that you’re 38 years old writing about a band called Dungeon Weed and a record they’ve put out called Mind Palace of the Mushroom God. What do any of those words even mean?
Well, I guess Dungeon Weed is self-explanatory. It’s weed in or from a dungeon. Fine.
Actually, the whole thing is less about specific descriptors than how it willfully positions itself in line with other records of the style. That style, as they put it, is “wizard doom,” which is a phrase I myself have used here to describe bands who play off an Electric Wizard influence. There’s some of that happening in Mind Palace of the Mushroom God, so fair enough. And they sound like they were making the most of the pandemic, and it’s Dmitri Mavra from Skunk and Slow Phase telling the story, so one way or the other you’re in good hands. Shit man, life is short. Find your fucking joy. If it’s in mind palace of a mushroom god, well, at least you didn’t have to shoot a Black person seven times in the back to get there.
Sorry.
The recording is rough, but not so much so that Forbidden Place Records hasn’t signed on to put the album out on vinyl — for which the artwork seems well suited — so take that as you will. Stream and video are at the bottom of the post if you want to dive in. Don’t mind if I do:
DUNGEON WEED – Mind Palace of the Mushroom God
MIND PALACE OF THE MUSHROOM GOD is available now on cd/download, coming this winter on vinyl from Forbidden Place Records.
DUNGEON WEED is a collaboration between Dmitri Mavra (SKUNK, SLOW PHASE) and Chris McGrew, session drummer/studio engineer at San Francisco’s Wally’s Hyde Out (formerly Hyde Street Studio C).
Born from the darkness of pandemic isolation, the album features 6 lengthy tracks of “wizard doom” that reflect these dark times.
Hyper fuzzed riffs, droning synths, and massive, sludgy drumming lay the foundation for solos that range from esoteric weirdness to soaring majesty as the album obliquely tells a dream fantasy in which a wizard seeking eternal life travels through the “Mind Palace of the Mushroom God” to strike a deal with Orcus, Lord of the Underworld. Terrible creatures are encountered on his quest before his wish for eternal life is finally granted, but was it worth the price? (Spoiler: of course not!)
While Mavra is known for the retro-drenched riffs of SKUNK and SLOW PHASE, DUNGEON WEED explores a slower, heavier, feedback-tinged sludge vibe. McGrew played and recorded the drums. Mavra played and recorded everything else, and illustrated the album. Guest vocals by Thia Moonbrook.
Available now on cd and digital:
https://dungeonweeddoomsludge.bandcamp.com/album/mind-palace-of-the-mushroom-god
Vinyl Edition pre-order:
https://forbiddenplacerecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/dungeonweed/
https://dungeonweeddoomsludge.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/forbiddenplacerecords/
https://forbiddenplacerecords.bandcamp.com/
