Release Date: May 20th 2022. Record Label: Kozmik Artifactz. Format: DD/Vinyl
Visions - Tracklisting
1.Crimson Earth 05:52
2.Born Of Electricity 04:30
3.Fly With Me 05:16
4.The Fog 03:22
5.Soul On Fire 06:09
6.Captive By Your Choices 05:30
7.Earth Meets The Sun 01:57
8.Travel The Universe 05:11
Members
Jake Lewis - Vocals, Guitars, Keys and Drums
Freddy Allen - Bass
Review
Visions is the new album from Texas Psych Stoner Rockers Gypsybyrd and it sees multi-instrumentalist and Gypsybyrd creative force Jake Lewis return with a more foreboding Doomed Out sound compared to their celebrated debut album Eye Of The Sun. Jake is joined once again by Sun Of Grey’s Freddy Allen on Bass Duties and he knows a thing or two about out Spaced Out Heavy Psychedelic sounds.
This album manages to convey the classic retro feel of their debut album but with a heavier Spacier element leading the way. Perhaps finding the right balance of modern day distorted Doom/Stoner Amplifier based grooves and the almost leaning “Uncle Acid” and “Black Sabbath” classic Doom Rock which is ultimately the “glue” that holds everything together.
Opening song Crimson Earth is a 70's Retro sounding Spaced Out Stoner Rock song with a modern day Doom Rock/Metal sound that fits in superbly well with the gloomy Blues based atmospherics. The song is quite solitary in places but picks up when the heavy guitars and thumping bass vibes appear. An aggressive Psych Rock underscore allows Jake’s vocals to be quite adventurous and even forceful at times for one of the standout tracks on the album.
Second song Born Of Electricity is a slightly tinged 70’s Occult Rock song with a free-flowing Psych Blues Rock environment branching off into Synth driven Ambient Rock. Unapologetically OTT but done with a killer Stoner Rock drive that has a wonderfully eccentric Organ/Synth sound that makes this song perhaps one of the hippest and freshest things I’ve heard in quite some time from the Retro/Classic Rock scene. I loved the use of Psychedelic based synths and heavy gloomy guitars that allows Gypsybyrd to thrive in both the classic and modern day eras of Stoner Rock. Jake’s vocals has that “Uncle Acid” sound to it yet again but delivered in his own great way for a song that’s daring and thrilling in equal measure.
Third song Fly With Me is another slice of Retro based Stoner Rock heaven with Sabbath-esque grooves and killer 60’s sounding vocals with that modern day sounding bass guitar by Freddy keeping things set into today’s era of Hard Rock. Quite slow paced in places but there’s a lot going on with this song and you may need the extra time to soak everything in.
Gypsybyrd keep moving along with their Psychedelic/Space Rock Adventure for the remainder of the album with the band moving from one trippy psychedelic environment to the next. The use of different sounds and synths allows Gypsybyrd to break new musical ground here compared to their debut album. The album can be more eccentric on the later stages of the album but everything has a sense of purpose especially on songs such as The Fog, Soul On Fire and Travel The Universe.
Gypsybyrd have delivered the goods yet again with a record that allows the band to further expand their sound for the better.
Visions is a wonderfully adventurous and mind-expanding album with the band honing their Psychedelic/Spaced Out “VISION” to another level of Doom/Stoner Rock Excellence. This is an album that has it all. Fantastic production values, superb instrumental work and a stellar vocal performance that ultimately leaves you fully satisfied but dare I say also leaving you wanting to hear more.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Kozmik Artifactz for the promo.
Visions is available to buy digitally now and will be available to buy on Vinyl from July 22nd 2022 via Kozmik Artifactz.
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