Release Date: June 27th 2025. Record Label: Echodelick Records / Riot Season Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Asura Airavata - Tracklisting
1.Acquisitions 04:12
2.Remover Of Obstacles 04:17
3.Destructional Wisdom 08:38
4.Galacta 06:29
5.Sustain Of The Vajira 06:41
6.Seth's Protection 07:20
Members
Mitsuru Tabata - Guitars, Vocals & Synths
Mike Vest - Bass, Guitars & Mix
Nick Raybould - Drums, Art & Design
Review
Asura Airavata is the new collaborative effort from underground sonic maestros Mitsuru Tabata, Mike Vest and Nick Raybould which takes another fearless approach into the realm of Psych Rock, Noise. Fuzz, Garage and Extra Dimensional SONIC passages. There’s an expressive Heavy Psychedelic sound that merges a Punk Rock aesthetic into the creative fabric of free-forming Japanese Psychedelic music, dominant guitars and world destroying synths.
Mike Vest on Bass and Guitars adds the grounded sense of heavy realism with a dynamite performance which echoes Sixties and Seventies Classic Heavy Rock aggression. Nick Raybould’s aggressive and jazzy based drumming is the glue that holds everything together allowing Mike and Mitsuru to go off into multiple creative directions to do their thing.
Even with the crazed Space Rock sounds, Asura Airavata is a grounded record with the overlapping dimensions of Space Rock slowly weaving into real life throughout the excellent opening tracks of Acquisitions, Remover Of Obstacles and Destructional Wisdom. The band injects a surreal blend of different vocals and glitchy Electronic noises at times though within its purest and experimental form.
The album really comes alive when they play a straightforward style of music that pays homage to the likes of CAN, Black Sabbath, Hawkwind, Jimi Hendrix, Monster Magnet, Acid Mothers Temple and Mainliner whilst still developing their own impressive sound. There is a sense of frenzied urgency with this musical project compared to the other bands that Mitsuru, Mike and Nick have been part of over the years.
All three worked together previously on Artifacts & Uranium with Mitsuru Tabata. (2023 Album - Phase IV). Mitsuru and Mike have also worked together previously on MODOKI whilst Mike and Nick have worked together previously on Pascere Lamia.
The music can be extremely challenging and dreamlike within the more quieter melodies and Post-Rock interludes that appear along the way. It’s quite a departure into Jazz and Krautrock surroundings on the second half of the record appearing within the subtle fourth track Galacta that does feel out of place compared to the frenzied and heavier offerings of the record. Though, I admire the subtle change of pace that appears within this track.
Once again, Monster Magnet legend John McBain helps out on mastering duties for the vinyl release with Mike Vest arranging and mixing the whole album. Asura Airavata is one of the loudest, abrasive and catchiest slices of Psych Rock that I’ve heard this year with Mitsuru Tabata, Mike Vest and Nick Raybould forming a highly formidable unit which should keep their established fan base superbly entertained for a long time to come.
Words by Steve Howe
Asura Airavata by MITSURU TABATA / MIKE VEST / NICK RAYBOULD is available to buy from the links below:
Riot Season Records / Echodelick Records
Links
Riot Season BandCamp | Mike Vest BandCamp
