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Psychlona Premiere “La Tolvanera”; Palo Verde Out Aug. 19

Posted in audiObelisk, Reviews on August 2nd, 2022 by JJ Koczan

psychlona

UK heavy rockers Psychlona release their third album, Palo Verde, on Aug. 19 through Psycho Waxx. That’s just in time for their appearance at Psycho Las Vegas 2022, from which the label is an offshoot. And Palo Verde is perhaps trivia-question-fodder as Psycho Waxx‘s first non-compilation release, but the eight fuzzed-out trippers, rockers and vibers that the Bradford four-piece led by guitarist/vocalist Phil Hey answer the promise of 2018’s Mojo Rising (discussed here) and 2020’s Venus Skytrip (review here) with a more expansive take overall across its 48 minutes.

To some that might mean psychedelia, that the record’s more bliss than shove, and I don’t know that that’s necessarily the case; there’s plenty of both. And in some cases it’s about how the balance is tipped to one side or the other. The side A shift from “Rainbird,” which has some push by the time its six minutes are through but starts out all languid, open-spaced tell-your-friends-to-come-to-this-party, hypnotic mellow bliss, to the clearly-Monolord-influenced “Meet Your Devil,” for example, allows the band — Hey, guitarist/vocalist Dave Wainfor, bassist Martyn “Turns Out it Was Food Poisoning” Birchall and drummer Scott Frankling — to mold and reshape the impression they leave behind while working roughly with the same basic sonic ideology: go big, go far out. But go.

And they do, with a clear intent at the outset for “Gasoline” to rev itself, the band and the listener up as its careening riff is joined by tense keyboard strikes in post-“Go With the Flow”-style, but its swelling and receding layers of guitar drop hints of some of the more lysergic fluidity to come later on with side B’s counterpoint leadoff “Purple River,” which has a build but is so much more about the drift than the payoff, or even the finale “Warped,” which tops seven minutes and lands one more solid hook through an ether of tonal swirl, sounding likewise jammy and structured. Again, that balance.

Palo Verde‘s first single, “1975,” takes hold after the opener’s feedback fades out and is led by Frankling‘s drums into a likewise-SongsfortheDeaf-ian burst to life and a riff that’s worth digging as deeply into as Psychlona does. psychlona palo verdeThe first two songs both have a long instrumental break that gives way back to the verse as clue to the underlying structure of songwriting from which the we-came-a-long-way-to-get-lost-in-this-desert-so-we’re-gonna-do-that spirit of the songs alights. In that context and in shifting from the opening salvo to the next stage of the record with a greater sense of breadth, “Rainbird” is right on time, with “Meet Your Devil” waiting right behind to bring it crashing down on your head.

There’s a kind of narrative there, in the classic nature of how Palo Verde presents itself, and it speaks to the band’s will to engage their audience. The rockers up front pull the listener in, the jammy flow entrances and then the big riff swings down. It’s a method that is both tried and true and Psychlona‘s own here as they contort their style to serve these varied purposes, and the plotline continues on the second half of the album, with “Purple River” leading into the fuzzy start-stop urgency of “Jetplane,” which brings Hey‘s vocals more forward from where they are on the song prior and resets with its outright catchiness the procession ahead of the penultimate “La Tolvanera” (premiering below) and “Warped” at the finish.

As the last of the chapters in the musical story, “La Tolvanera” and “Warped” are particularly intriguing, the former for its relatively concise 5:40 execution of a heavy psychedelic rock, which echoes like some of Elephant Tree‘s work but remains loyal to desert ideals, the riff surrounded by a wash that includes Hey‘s vocals but still very much at the core. “Warped” builds on this while summarizing the multifaceted sides of the tracks before it and directing its solo-laced payoff jam toward what I’ll assume is the heart of a hot, beating-down sun and letting it be all the way gone. No coming back and all that.

And not that the above isn’t relevant to how Palo Verde works, but what I haven’t mentioned yet is that the record is a blast. Psychlona have known all along where they wanted to head as a band, and even as these cuts provide outlet for that, they also cover some new ground for them, as both manifestation of craft and a look at what might come next. Psych suits them. Heavy suits them. Riffs suit them. Desert, crunch, shove — there isn’t any element being wasted here, and for an album that sounds as laid back as it does, that is not a minor accomplishment. If Palo Verde is what Psychlona have been moving toward all this time, the acclaim they’ve reaped as a result is well earned.

Enjoy “La Tolvanera” on the player below, followed by a few words from Hey and live dates, album info, etc., from the PR wire:

Psychlona, “La Tolvanera” premiere

Phil Hey on “La Tolvanera”:

“‘La Tolvanera’ was a tune I was messing around with for a while. I wanted it to be kind of spacey, spooky, and chilled out, but with some heavy as hell breaks in there too. Lyrically it’s loosely a sort of ‘big brother is watching’ covert mission to get across the desert, avoiding sinister beings and doing as you’re told if you want to eventually meet St. Peter. Bit tongue in cheek really. La Tolvanera is Spanish for dust cloud which adds to the secrecy of the mission.”

Preorder link: https://psychowaxx.com/

Formed in Bradford in the summer of 2016, Psychlona have fast become one of the UK’s most coveted heavy psych rock bands. Stealing influence from punk; the Palm Desert scene and 60s/70s psychedelia, two chapters deep into their cosmic journey (following 2018’s Mojo Rising and 2020’s Venus Skytrip), their highly anticipated third is on the horizon and could well be their most electrifying yet.

Teaming up with Psycho Waxx, the in-house label of Psycho Las Vegas Festival – America’s leading and legendary weekend of rock ‘n’ roll debauchery; matchless curation and aural attitude – Psychlona have well and truly found their spiritual home.

Arriving next month, Palo Verde is their third studio album of original material and Psycho Waxx’s first, following on from their inaugural release, Löve Me Förever: A Tribute to Motörhead; a compilation that featured contributions from the likes of Phil Anselmo, Nick Oliveri, High on Fire, Eyehategod, and many more.

Psychlona’s Palo Verde is released 19th August with vinyl pre-orders for the “GALAXY” variant – limited to 700 copies – available exclusively here at Psycho Waxx: https://psychowaxx.com/

PSYCHLONA Tour Dates:
13/8 – Sonic Blast Festival – Viana Do Castelo, Portugal
15/8 – Starline Social Club, Oakland, CA
16/8 – The Roxy Theatre – West Hollywood, CA
17/8 – The Wayfarer – Costa Mesa, CA
18/8 – The Rebel Lounge – Phoenix, AZ
19/8 – Brick by Brick – San Diego, CA
20+21/8 – Psycho Las Vegas – Las Vegas, NV
17/9 – Riffolution Festival – Sheffield, UK

Psychlona:
Phil Hey – Guitar, Lead Vocals
Martyn Birchall – Bass
Dave Wainfor – Guitar, Vocals
Scott Frankling – Drums

Psychlona, “1975” official video

Psychlona on Bandcamp

Psychlona on Facebook

Psychlona on Instagram

Psycho Waxx on Facebook

Psycho Waxx on Instagram

Psycho Waxx on Bandcamp

Psycho Waxx website

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Psychlona Post “1975” Video; Palo Verde Preorder Available

Posted in Bootleg Theater on June 28th, 2022 by JJ Koczan

psychlona

I wasn’t born in the 1970s, and neither I suspect was the majority of UK heavy rockers Psychlona, but I don’t necessarily believe that lessens the ideal they’re speaking to. Led by vocalist/guitarist Phil Hey, the four-piece will release their new album, Palo Verde, through the Psycho Las Vegas-affiliated Psycho Waxx imprint, and though I’ve yet to hear it — maybe a Fall release? — I was fortunate enough to see them live at Freak Valley Festival in Germany a couple weekends ago, and the single “1975” well represents their desert-style intentions fluidly, the accompanying video set in a kind of caricature of the era, a rock club at which even the boredest-looking attendees end up playing Twister by the middle of the song.

And I’m pretty sure that counted as sex in 1975, so yeah. Life is short. Go get some.

The thing about ’75 in particular though is that it’s easy to think of as a point of transition. The heavy rock boom of 1969-’72 had abated, and yeah, KISS were out doing the thing, but the NWOBHM that would emerge in the wake of Judas Priest and Black Sabbath (etc.) had yet to take shape. Punk was on the way up first, at least how historical pop culture narrative has it — things are never actually so black and white — and disco was about to do to funk what glam would do for heavy metal in the ’80s in stripping back its edge in favor of a more accessible and in this case danceable product.

It’s a subcultural peculiarity of heavy rock that it references the ’70s even as the sound is primarily derived from the ’90s, but if you know, then you know, and that’s enough. Psychlona‘s preach to the converted is righteous here and if you’d listen and observe that “hey derp derp there’s no desert in Bradford,” you’ve missed the point. I offer a friendly recommendation to go back and start again.

And please, enjoy:

Psychlona, “1975” official video

The 1970’s were a trip. The end of the 60’s was a cold, hard slap in the face by reality for psychonauts everywhere but the era’s psychedelic drip still trickled down to inspire some of the greatest rock and roll mankind has ever produced. Strapping you into their sonic time machine, Psychlona reproduces the sound and vibration of rock’s most decadent, mystical and formative decade with “1975”, the first single off their third album “Palo Verde”.

As the second track off their highly anticipated first release with Psycho Waxx, the band shares with you the music video for “1975” which, under the masterful direction of Sam Drake, brings us all back to a time when distraction was never devoid of human connection. When rockers were good to each other and music reigned supreme. Desert groove and peaking guitars were the universe’s song, guiding humanity into uncharted artistic direction and now in 2022, Psychlona brings these desert rock essential elements to new heights of cosmic psychosis with “1975”.

Check out “1975” on all streaming platforms. Grab a Digital Download of “1975” for every psycho in your circle to enjoy. And if all that doesn’t launch you deep enough into outer space, vinyl preorders for the “GALAXY” variant are now live at PsychoWaxx.com with only 700 copies available to our most devoted psychonauts.

Psychlona, “Blast Off” official video

Psychlona on Bandcamp

Psychlona on Facebook

Psychlona on Instagram

Psycho Waxx on Facebook

Psycho Waxx on Instagram

Psycho Waxx on Bandcamp

Psycho Waxx website

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Psychlona Sign to Psycho Waxx; Palo Verde Coming Soon

Posted in Whathaveyou on May 18th, 2022 by JJ Koczan

The name of the new Psychlona album is Palo Verde and it will be their first release through Psycho Waxx, the label wing of the venerable Psycho Las Vegas festival, which had previously announced a Motörhead tribute — in which Psychlona also took part — and intentions toward picking up bands. Well, here we are.

Having two prior LPs — the last one was 2020’s Venus Skytrip (review here) — and a slew of Euro and UK fest appearances both behind them and currently slated, the band will perform a handful of West Coast US shows before they ultimately land at Psycho itself, and if that was going to be a to-do before, no doubt that’s moved on, perhaps even to hootenany level. Should be a good time. They’re the hometown team now.

Their announcement follows:

Psychlona Psycho Waxx

*MASSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT* We’ve kept schtum long enough – we are hugely, hugely proud to announce we have signed with Psycho Waxx !

Not only is #PsychoWaxx Psycho Las Vegas ‘s in-house label, but as you’d expect, they are music fans through and through. We can’t thank them enough, especially when you get a rousing review like this:

“Psycho Waxx and Psycho Las Vegas sometimes find a band’s sound so magnetic and expressive of all things Psycho, that we bless them as a pure extension of our vision. Britain’s Psychlona are Made Men now, their desert rock is the feel good anthemic rock of the Psycho summer. They may be from across the pond, but in their sound, we’ve found new psychedelic directions to the heart of the American dream. Just before they play Psycho Las Vegas 2022, they’re releasing their 3rd album, Palo Verde. In addition to seeing them at the festival, the band is going on a North American tour packed with Psycho alumnists. Lose yourself in Psychlona’s epic, technical trip, where psych, desert rock, and stoner/doom fill the airwaves with fresh new noise, flying the Psycho flag loud and proud. So hear this signal now, Psychos worldwide, this is your clarion call, Psychlona will be rocking and rolling on these dates in a city near you.” Cheers guys.

And, on top of that, our first order of business is to hit the West Coast with Church of the Cosmic Skull , Black Box Revelation and Lord Buffalo , ending our stint at our new label’s home in #vegas, at #psycholasvegas . You should pop by.

8/15 Monday – Oakland, CA
Starline Social Club

8/16 Tuesday – West Hollywood, CA
The Roxy
https://www.axs.com/events/432712/church-of-the-cosmic-skull-tickets

8/17 Wednesday – Costa Mesa, CA
The Wayfarer
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/332057120787

8/18 Thursday – Phoenix, AZ
The Rebel Lounge
https://wl.seetickets.us/event/CHURCH-OFTHECOSMICSKULL/481589?afflky=TheRebelLounge

8/19 Friday – San Diego, CA
Brick By Brick
https://bit.ly/COTCS-SD

+ Psycho Las Vegas 2022
https://vivapsycho.com/

psychlona.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/Psychlona/
http://instagram.com/psychlona

https://facebook.com/107086615012567/
https://instagram.com/psychowaxx
https://psychowaxx.bandcamp.com/releases
https://psychowaxx.com/

Psychlona, “Blast Off” official video

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Psycho Las Vegas Announces Psycho Waxx Label; Recruits High on Fire & More for Motörhead Tribute

Posted in Whathaveyou on August 19th, 2021 by JJ Koczan

But wait, there’s more! On the very day it begins hosting its 2021 festival, Psycho Las Vegas has announced a new label imprint, Psycho Waxx. Sadly I don’t think they’re hiring A&R, otherwise I’d surely apply for the job and clog there roster with Swedish bands who won’t sell. Shame though.

Instead, they throw their hats into the tribute compilation game — who doesn’t like a gritty reboot? — with Löve Me Förever, a suitably umlauted homage to Motörhead that will boast new recordings from High on Fire, Blackwater Holylight, Mothership, Nick Oliveri and a slew of others. One expects that by the time it’s out it will be completely over the top, because Psycho is nothing if not on-brand in how they do.

One would remiss not to note that Löve Me Förever isn’t the first of recent heavy underground Motörhead tributes. Midwestern label The Company exceeded a Kickstarter goal to produce Ferociously Stöned: The Company Tribute to Motörhead, which it released in April and has out on physical as well as digital formats, with Keef Mountain, Hyborian and others in the label’s sphere taking part. While we’re on the subject, Psycho Waxx‘s Motörhead tribute probably won’t be the last either. These kinds of thing are going to be happening for a long time. At least as long as they sell, if not longer.

What follows came from social media:

love me forever motorhead tribute vinyl

PREORDERS are now open for LÖVE ME FÖREVER, a @psychowaxx tribute to one of the greatest rock ‘n roll bands of all time.

Motörhead is embedded deep in Psycho’s DNA, which is why we’ve got a slew of this year’s bombers hitting our Downtown Vegas studio during the fest to lay down their love in epic homage to the undeniable legends.

Löve Me Förever arrives on lavish double vinyl in 2022, with insane Motörhead cuts from the likes of HIGH ON FIRE, MIDNIGHT, EXHORDER, BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT, EYEHATEGOD, CEPHALIC CARNAGE, MOTHERSHIP, FOIE GRAS, HOWLING GIANT, CREEPING DEATH and more, plus an all-star collaborative take on “Ace of Spades” featuring Phil Anselmo, Gary Holt, Chuck Garric, Nick Oliveri and Dwid Hellion, among others. It’s everything you’d expect from Psycho as we throw down the gauntlet on our first official release.

2021 Psycho Las Vegas attendees pre-ordering on site at the fest will take home a limited edition cover art print, and receive a deluxe Psycho Waxx slipmat with record shipment. Art prints can be picked up at the Psycho showroom on Sunday, August 22 at 3 PM, held under the name on your pre-order.

https://www.instagram.com/psychowaxx/
https://psychowaxx.com/
https://shop.vivapsycho.com/

https://www.facebook.com/events/2513255765662644/
http://www.vivapsycho.com
http://www.facebook.com/psychoLasVegas
http://www.instagram.com/psycholasvegas

Motörhead, “Love Me Forever”

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