Release date: April 17th 2020. Label: Go Down Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
ERA - Tracklist
01. Enrique Dominguez
02. In The Shadow
03. San Saguaro
04. Dead City
05. Vibromatic
06. Raul
07. Ufo
08. Baumgartner
09. Extremely High
10. El Toro
Band Members:
Alessandro Toffanello | vocals, bass, synth
Emanuel Poletto | guitars
Marco Bortoletto | drums
Review
Era is the new album from Doom/Stoner Rockers Maya Mountains and is their first album in 12 years since their 2008 release. This album is quite a heavy, dense and inventive affair and I will admit that this is the first time I’ve heard anything from the band and I’m impressed by the bands style of Heavy Psychedelic Stoner Rock that’s not afraid to move into different direction.
Era is an album that doesn’t shy away from playing a more experimental style of Doom/Stoner Rock with a Grunge atmosphere being heard in the later stages of the album. This album can be quite chaotic in places but one that remains true to the essence of Stoner Rock/Metal.
The whole album is quite expansive with Maya Mountains exploring many different musical avenues that has a classic Desert/Stoner Rock feel on certain parts of the album and can be quite daring and bold in places. The vocals are quite distinctive with a Noise Rock based approach on the opening songs for: Enrique Dominguez, In The Shadow and Dead City.
The instrumental work has the standard “Desert/Stoner Rock” feel and things we’ve heard multiple times before but Maya Mountains at least try to bring a more distorted style of FUZZ to their overall sound.
If you ever wonder what would happen if KYUSS ever went down the Grunge route this is perhaps the closest you’ll ever get to that answer and I mean that as a compliment. As it shows how versatile this album is and it will take you into some unexpected territory especially on the stunning instrumental track - Raul. This is the standout song on the album and perhaps the most inventive with its; wide array of different Psychedelic Stoner Rock grooves whilst offering a more sleazy outlook on life.
Overall, Era is quite an uncompromising album that pulls no punches with it’s dark outlook on the Stoner Rock sound and there are a lot of great songs to lose yourself on this release.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR, Maya Mountains and Go Down Records for the promo.
Era is available to buy now on CD/DD/VInyl via Go Down Records.
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