Release Date: February 24th 2023. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Acid Universe: Tracklisting
Crowley Magick
The Ghost Of...
261 To Lisbon
White Hot Fever Dream
Acid Universe
Review
Instrumental Psych Stoner Rockers El Supremo return with their new album Acid Universe and the band offer a more gloomier and Blues based offering compared to their last album. The album is a mix of Blues Rock, Fuzz Rock, Psych, Stoner Rock and classic Doom Metal passages. The album is quite funky in places with the organs and synths bringing a more Occult Rock vibe into the earlier parts of the album.
There is still a heavy Stoner Rock/Metal atmosphere that can be even quite Sludge Rock in places which you can hear on the fantastic opening song Crowley Magick. The band offer stellar work by creating a warped Psych Rock/Space Rock flow to the song which is straight from the top drawer of 70's based Psychedelic Rock. The FUZZIER attitude of the song allows El Supremo to play a multi-layered style of highly melodic Jam based Rock whilst encompassing a studious WEEDIAN underground delivery for the song.
Second song The Ghost Of... continues with the Freaky and Blues based Spaced Out Vibe with traces of Post-Doom and Proggy based Stoner Rock rhythms leading the way. There's a superb Bass Guitar on the early stages of the song setting up the scene for El Supremo to inject a HEAVIER and DISTORTED sound. Partially inspired by Black Sabbath, Yawning Man and Earthless but ultimately doing their own. The cool sounding Organs and Synths make this song that ever bit more dangerous and elusive.
Third song 261 To Lisbon has a more Ambient and Trippy approach with El Supremo adding different noises and sounds for a more Jazzy effect. The music even has a slightly droned out feeling with the multiple styles of Psychedelic Rock that El Supremo uses for this song. It's quite classical and methodical in nature with the Space Rock extended jams taking over with another commanding Organ based presence. One of the more soulful and heavier tracks on the album when the band go into full on FUZZ ROCK & SLUDGE ROCK overdrive but with a loving embrace to the 1970's Psych/Space Rock scenes.
Up next is White Hot Fever Dream and Acid where El Supremo moves into Acid Rock territory with the whole tone of the album becoming more FREAKIER with the subtle changes to different areas of Psychedelia. White Hot Fever Dream is another throwback to the 60's and 70's Hard Rock scene with subtle glances or changes to extended Blues Rock and Stoner Rock prog ideas.
The final track Acid Universe is the standout track on the album with El Supremo wisely picking their moments when to bring the HEAVIER GROOVES into play. The song starts quietly and slowly gathers momentum along the way with the music being more Acid Rock and JAM based with the later stages showing that WEEDIAN underground philosophy that brings the heaviest and cleverest moments on the album.
Acid Universe is an album that delves right into the action and doesn't stop with a wide assortment of brilliantly played HUGE SOUNDING RIFFS from start to finish. The album can be quite frantic in places but there's a sense of warmth to these tracks and this album that leaves you with a huge smile on your face and perhaps even moving the listener into "INTERDIMENSIONAL SPACE GOAT TERRITORY".
El Supremo have delivered the goods yet again with Acid Universe and they have released their best album to date.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotions for the promo.
Acid Universe will be available to buy on CD/DD from the Band and Vinyl via Argonauta Records from February 24th 2023.
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