Release Date: 01st March 2024. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats CD/DD/Vinyl
Psychodrama - Tracklisting
1.Ride Or Die
2.Black Mass
3.Diabolique
4.Retrovertigo
5.Sky Below My Feet
6.Paradise Lost
7.Radioactive
8.Wall Of Silence
9.Separation Of The Mind
10.Ride Or Die (reprise)
Members
Juan Carlos Caceres – Lead Vocals, Guitars, Synths, Piano
Nate Wright – Drums and Vocals
Charles Hodge – Bass and Vocals
Jeanot Lewis-Rolland – – Guitars and Vocals
Review
Psychomania is the debut full length album from Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers Tigers On Opium who have been impressing me even further with every record they release. Their debut album is no different with Tigers On Opium weaving 1970’s Hard Rock, Classic Doom Rock, Trippy Psychedelic Grooves and masses of Dark Orientated Stoner Rock/Metal.
The album covers social and psychological themes which shape up the fucked up world we live in which is completely out of our control. However, Tigers On Opium deliver this message through moments of Trippy Psychedelic Heavy Jams and Gloomy Hard Rock passages with intelligent lyrics to match. The vocals mostly from Juan Carlos Caceres with superb support from Nate, Charles and Jeanot have a 1980’s Stadium Rock and modern day Proto-Doom sound that reminds me of Mars Red Sky and Uncle Acid & The Deadbeat in places.
Tigers On Opium always strive for creative musical excellence throughout with an exciting style of highly original Psychedelic tones and catchy aggressive Stoner rhythms with an apocalyptic style of Fuzz Rock on outstanding tracks such as: Ride Or Die, Black Mass, Diabolique, Paradise Lost, Radioactive and Separation Of The Mind.
Even though Psychodrama has plenty of gloomy and hard-hitting vibes, the record also has some killer upbeat movements which is told mostly through the fast-paced grooves Tigers On Opium play on this album.
There’s some wicked 1980’s Soft Rock and AOR melodies which you don’t expect from the band especially on the sublime fourth track Retrovertigo which could easily be considered a romantic song if performed by a different band. However, listen to the lyrics more closely and the song changes into something more profound even with the Classic Rock and Retro Rock based elements. This is perhaps one of the most original and surreal songs on the album which showcases why I think Tigers On Opium are one of the best songwriters in the Stoner Rock underground scene.
The creative magic that the band conjures up on Psychodrama is EPIC and the band delivers one classic track after another. This sounds like a greatest hits album rather than a debut album. You get the feeling that Tigers On Opium have been around for decades and showing the upcoming bands within the Stoner Rock scene how to deliver a winning collection of highly original Stoner Rock songs that have a deep social conscience to them.
Psychodrama has the legendary Jack Endino on mastering duties and the band’s very own Juan Carlos Caceres on production duties. You also have Adam Pike helping guitarist Jeanot on engineering duties. So this album is very much a team affair and a great reason why the album sounds fantastic from start to finish.
Tigers On Opium will no doubt gain a whole legion of new fans and gain more attention thanks to this album alone. Psychodrama is an outstanding debut album. End Of.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Psychodrama will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from March 1st 2024.
Links
Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
