Italian newcomer trio Mystical Porn Heroes — who are named presumably so that those posting about them on social media can have any and all accounts immediately suspended — will release their self-titled debut EP on July 7 through Go Down Records. The band brings together drummer Max Ear (also of Ananda Mida, OJM and Go Down Records) and guitarist/vocalist Andrea “Rocker” Ghion (also Scontro Frontale and El Cuento de la Chica y la Tequila, among others) with Tommaso Mantelli (Captain Mantell, Kirlian, ex-Bleeding Eyes, among others) handling bass and production in the band’s hometown of Treviso. Working shortest to longest across “Tura” (3:12), “Carnal” (4:16) and “Titana” (4:57) — the last of which appeared on a Go Down digital compilation last year, the three-piece find their way into darkened corners of heavy, classic doom nod and garage rock drawl meeting without coming across as either an Electric Wizard clone or hyper-performative cult rock.

What saves them in both regards is the movement in the tracks. “Tura” and “Carnal” have an undercurrent of ’70s heavy rock, the instrumental and “Carnal” reaches with Ghion‘s solo toward modern prog tonality like later-’70s Iommi, but even there, Mystical Porn Heroes don’t shy away from boogie, even if the tone is moodier and that rhythmic shuffle is filled out with a marked consideration for atmosphere. “Tura” works in layers almost from the outset and establishes its riff like stoner metal, but might shakes out across its brief course like a nebulous Green Lung, replacing grandeur of arrangement with lower-fi, dug-in darkfuzz. It and “Carnal” lead into the prior-unveiled “Titana,” and that song’s arrival feels momentous with its keys-or-effects flourish, rhythm and lead layers, somehow-Bowie strut and rawer hook, the drums matching the guitar in its turns before straightening out to sprint to the crashout at the end, a final thud. Whump.

With elements of garage rock, garage doom, classic heavy, ’90s weirdness, and a moniker that is going to catch the eye one way or the other, Mystical Porn Heroes on their debut EP establish a place for themselves between defined microgenres. This is to their credit as experienced players and as new collaborators in this context, and ideally the direction of their growth as a unit from here will be foreshadowed by the malleable sound offered in these three songs and 12 minutes. They are on their way toward a multifaceted sound underscored by volatile but steady groove and a sneaky depth in the mix, and these first steps are an encouraging beginning of their getting there.

A lyric video for “Tura” premieres below, followed by more info from the PR wire. One more time, Mystical Porn Heroes‘ self-titled debut EP is out July 7 on Go Down Records.

Please enjoy:

Mystical Porn Heroes, “Tura” lyric video premiere

Mystical Porn Heroes is a fictional work inspired by the current obsessive and disturbing cult of appearance trying to interpret it. These are three “musical tales” set in a crazed, dystopic, and obscene world, a theater of questionable heroic deeds.

“Tura” is the EP’s opening track, and its official lyric video features AI-generated visuals edited by Andrew Pozzy (The Sade). “Carnal” is an instrumental interlude that perfectly encapsulates MPH’s musical style: a tight rhythm section that intertwines with oriental-flavored harmonies. The final “Titana”, previously included on the Go Down Records 2022 compilation, evokes the anxiety triggered by the chaos of an impending and mysterious disaster.

MYSTICAL PORN HEROES is the new musical project of guitarist and songwriter Andrea Ghion, aka Rocker (Scontro Frontale, Rocker’s Guitar), and drummer Max Ear (OJM, Ananda Mida, Go Down Records Art Director). Their self-titled debut EP was conceived at Altroquando, Zero Branco, Italy, and later arranged and recorded by Tommaso Mantelli at his Lesder Studio.

Music and lyrics by Andrea ‘Rocker’ Ghion.
Recorded and mastered by Tommaso Mantelli at Lesder Studio, Treviso, Italy.
Language supervision by Luciano Caserta.
Cover by eeviac: http://www.eeviac.art/

LINE-UP & CREDITS
Rocker – guitar, vocals
Max Ear – drums
Tommaso Mantelli – bass

Mystical Porn Heroes on Facebook

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Go Down Records website

Tags: Go Down Records, Italy, Mystical Porn Heroes, Mystical Porn Heroes Self-titled, OJM, self-titled, Treviso

This entry was posted on Friday, June 30th, 2023 at 7:43 am and is filed under audiObelisk, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.