Release
date: January 31st
2020.
Heavy
Psych Sounds.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Visions
Beyond Horizon
- Tracklisting
1.
The Glim
2.
The Paraonid
3.
The I Was Gone
4.
Mirror Image
5.
Hidden Wall
6.
Shadows From The Altar
7.
En Las Sombras
8.
Tragic Motion Lines
9.
The War Years
Members
Bob
Balch (Guitar, Bass)
Gary
Arce (Guitar)
Tony
Reed (Vocals, Keys, Drums)
Mario
Lalli (Bass)
Per
Wiberg (Keys)
Bill
Stinson (Drums)
Nick
Oliveri (Bass)
Lisa
Alley (Vocals)
Ian
Graham (Vocals)
Alain
Johannes (Vocals, Guitar)
Review
Visions
Beyond Horizon is the debut full length album from
Psychedelic/Desert/Stoner Rock supergroup – Big Scenic Nowhere –
which is made of up core members – Gary Acre (Yawning Man) and Bob
Balch (Fu Manchu). Two individuals who know a thing or two about
playing Heavy Stoner Rock grooves.
The
guys have asked their famous friends such as Tony Reed, Mario Lalli,
Per Wilberg, Bill Stinson, Nick Olivieri, Lisa Alley, Ian Graham and
Alan Johannes to join them on this epic journey of dark sounding
Desert/Stoner Rock weirdness. The majority of the musicians who
appear on this album also appeared on their recently released
acclaimed debut EP – Dying On The Mountain – which was released a
few months back.
Visions
Beyond Horizon is a more thrilling and different sounding experience
compared to their debut EP with the band exploring darker themes and
progressive ideas that I didn’t really expect for a Desert/Stoner
Rock album such as this. Big Scenic Nowhere is a true creative force
of nature with the different style of songs and range of guest
vocalists and musicians adding their own unique spin on things.
Opening
song – The Glim – is a heavy kaleidoscopic use of Psychedelic
Rock, Stoner Rock and Desert Rock with a deep Yawning Man style of
music driving the narrative home. The song is quite melodic and moody
in places with a deeply satisfying Post-Stoner vibe allowing the
album to demand your full attention this early on. The vocals are
superb with a more laid-back feel but things do become heavy on
certain parts of the song.
Second
song – The Paranoid – is a more Punk driven song. This song is
fast-paced and is likely to confuse listeners at first as this song
is so left-field compared to the other songs on the album. This is
the heaviest and shortest song on the album but offers a few moments
of snarling Stoner Rock/Metal attitude.
Third
song – Then I was Gone – has a more classic sounding Desert Rock
approach with delicious vocals from Ian Graham (I could be wrong on
this one) and Lisa Alley. The vocals complement each other superbly
well. As they drift from a heartfelt style to a more rebellious and
double-crossing style of vocals. The music is mostly laidback Desert
Rock grooves which feels more influenced by Yawning Man. One of the
standout songs on the album.
Fourth
song – Mirror Image – is what you would expect from a Yawning
Man/Fu Manchu project such as Big Scenic Nowhere. As the music is the
perfect sounding union of these two legendary bands. The music is a
distinctive style of Desert Rock. Stoner Rock and Punk based
aggression. The vocals are straight to the point but with a classic
hard rock sensibility. There are some epic guitar solos on this song
that is quite spaced out in places but still leaves you wanting more.
Fifth
song – Hidden Wall – is the most laid-back offering with a
Post-Desert/Post-Stoner based attitude allowing the band to create a
lush psychedelic sound with an almost “Jazz” based approach.
Though this is a false narrative as the song becomes more threatening
when the heavier vocals and riffs appear in the second half of the
song. I did enjoy the Yawning Man influenced style chill out/ambient
based music the most on this song. As it shows a different side to
the whole album. The second half of this song is perhaps the heaviest
part of the album.
There
are four songs left but I would be here all day reviewing every
single one and I feel the five songs I’ve reviewed here does more
enough explaining on what to expect for the rest of the album.
The
remaining songs – Shadows From The Altar, En Las Sombras, Tragic
Motion Lines and The War Years – all offer have their own
individual style of Desert Rock, Psych Rock and Stoner Rock to
impress people with. En Las Sombras and Tragic Motion Lines are
perhaps my favourite songs on the album. As they offer the most
creative sounds on the album and both have an addictive quality to
them.
Visions
Beyond Horizon could have easily been an overblown release with the
many different musicians and styles of music contained on the album.
However, this is one of the most creative and highly original
Desert/Stoner Rock albums I’ve heard in years. Everything about
this album oozes class
I
don’t know what more can be said about this album but mainly to say
that Visions Beyond Horizon is an unforgettable album and is a future
classic in the making.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Purple
Sage PR, All Noir PR and Action PR
for the promo. Visions
Beyond Horizon
will
be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl
via Heavy Psych Sounds
from Jan 31st
2020.
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