Toronto heavy rockers Ol’ Time Moonshine release their third full-length, Magic, on Aug. 5 through Salt of the Earth Records. Preorders for the album are open… now.

No, wait.

Okay… now. Yes.

It is the band’s second release through Salt of the Earth following behind 2017’s ambitious and conceptual The Apocalypse Trilogies (review here) and 2014’s The Demon Haunted World (review here), and works off the band’s stated ethic of turning, “lead into gold,” in classic alchemical fashion.

There’s no denying that when a band clicks in terms of sound, chemistry, dynamic, even just personally, there’s an a-very-good-thing-is-happening serotonin release, or as the long-player puts it, a kind of Magic. Ethereal as the notion might be, if their intent is to convey these more-than-sum-of-parts aspects of what happens when the jams work, well, they’ve got the right jams. And the ethic holds, from the Deliverance-era C.O.C. burl of “Chrononaut” (premiering below), “Dark Clouds of Doom” and “Hexslinger” punching through the opening salvo, to the later hooky nod of “Sweet Black Angel,” the momentary letting loose of the seven-minute “Higher Learning” (longest track and presumed end of a vinyl side A), or the head-down shove that caps the penultimate “Transmissions” (shortest track at 3:30), which moves from highlight vocal melodies and open spaces into one of Magic‘s most physically urgent progressions and still leaves room for “Where Giants Rest” to close out with pointed structures encased in a slower, more languid flow and just a moment’s break before the last, swirling solo takes hold to lead the way out of the album.

Along their many-riffed and delightfully crunchy path, the four-piece of guitarist/vocalist Bill Kole, bassist/backing vocalist Jesse Mackowycz, guitarist Chris Coleiro and drummer Adam Saitti are united in their purpose toward both sides of the style in which they reside — they’re heavy and they rock — but there is more character in their delivery and songwriting than a simple aping of genre tropes would imply. Truth is there always has been, but the John Critchley recording and Greg Dawson mix — the latter crucial since it brings a harder edge to the presentation than the band has had previously — as well as the fresh take on groove of Saitti and Mackowycz, who are both new to the band as of this record, creates a combination of elements that seems to bring it all together such that by the time Angela Neatby of well-kept-Québecois-secret Muffler Crunch sits in alongside Kole on vocals for “Please, Please” after the first four cuts, the very arrangement of the album itself becomes part of the richness that continues to grow as “Sweet Black Angel” rolls out languid after.

As you listen to “Chrononaut” on the player below, keep in mind not only it as part of a first-of-three as it seems very much intended to be in the company of “Dark Clouds of Gloom” and “Hexslinger,” but also how some of the later instrumental melodicism will manifest on vocals as well as guitar, Magic proving able to evoke mood while also going about its tasks of craft with a we’re-just-a-band-playing-riffs-man-shaped void where pretense might otherwise be. Like the record as a whole, “Chrononaut” reveals more depths of tonality and mix on subsequent listens, and really, going through a couple times will only get the song stuck in your head, which after listening once is where you’ll likely want it to be. So have fun with that.

Band comment, album preorder links and other info follow.

Please enjoy:

Ol’ Time Moonshine, “Chrononaut” lyric video premiere

Ol’ Time Moonshine on “Chrononaut”:

“Chrononaut” opens the album strong and was an easy choice for the first single with its heavy groove and big chorus. The lyrics tell the tale of the Chrononaut, a time travelling scientist seeking to find the beginning and end points of history to help them understand their place in time and space. Gabby Vessoni created the official lyric video for us, and did an amazing job.

Ol’ Time Moonshine have dabbled in the dark arts of riff alchemy with their third album, “Magic”. A rockin’ & rollin‘, dynamic exploration of all that is heavy, these 8 tracks are loaded with hooks and full throttle groove. Lead turned into gold.

Recorded and engineered by Juno award winner John Critchley and mixed and mastered by Greg Dawson (Grale, Olde), Ol’ Time Moonshine have never sounded better, expanding on the sound of their first two releases to deliver their darkest, most dynamic album yet.

Less conceptual than their sophomore release, “The Apocalypse Trilogies”, but still layered in meaning (and riffs!), “Magic” is a much more melodic album than their previous releases, but certainly no less heavy in execution.

“Magic” sees Ol’ Time Moonshine welcome a new rhythm section: Adam Saitti (Gypsy Chief Goliath, Georgian Skull) on drums and Jesse Mackowycz (Bad Blood, Quarter Tank) on bass.

Pre-release On Sale Date: July 18th, 2022
Album Launch: August 5th
Available on CD and digital

In Canada: http://www.oltimemoonshine.bandcamp.com
US & International: http://www.saltoftheearthrecords.com

Available on all major streaming services on or shortly after launch date.

Ol’ Time Moonshine:
Bill Kole – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
Chris Coleiro – rhythm and lead guitar
Adam Saitti – drums
Jesse Mackowycz – bass and backing vocals

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