Release Date: August 22nd 2025. Record Label: White Locust Records. Formats: DD
A Cosmic Year - Tracklisting
1.The Descent 02:46
2.Fire Rider I: Collision 06:02
3.Blood Divine 04:11
4.Vicious Cycle 04:19
5.Amalgamate 01:19
6.I Gotta Get Out 03:46
7.As You Whir 01:03
8.The Way Down 04:05
9.Smoke Still Casts a Shadow 02:07
10.Fire Rider II: Rebirth 06:27
Members
Matt C. White
Review
A Cosmic Year is the latest album from multi-instrumentalist Matt C. White who I’ve featured here a few times now. Matt plays an outstanding style of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal where anything goes especially once Matt fully hits his creative peak form throughout the album.
There are moments of Psych, Stoner, Grunge, Doom, Sludge, Prog and Space Rock vibes with Matt inspired by the likes of Mastodon, The Mars Volta, HUM and Soundgarden. The album has an eerie 1970’s Hard Rock attitude but works considerably better when Matt embraces modern day grooves which gives it quite a contemporary and alternative feel.
The instrumental work is simply wonderful to hear with A Cosmic Year never being stifled by the rules of the different genres that Matt works steadily on the album. There is some Funk Rock interplay being heard at different stages of the record which allows Matt to tap into the heavier melodies when the opportunity arises especially on tracks such as Fire Rider !: Collision, Blood Divine, I Gotta Get Out, The Way Down and the standout track of Fire Rider II: Rebirth.
A Cosmic Year does have a more free-flowing and seedier style of Psych Rock and Space Rock compared to similar records of this type. Matt has a chameleon-like personality here which is thanks to the multiple different vocal styles and storytelling aspects that he puts to great use from start to finish. The lyrics are quite HIP in places but offers a great Hard Rock/Stoner Rock perspective along the way which can be quite grounded despite the Space Rock atmosphere that Matt projects through is intelligent of different musical instruments.
With a heavy reliance on Electronica sounds, glitches and Psychedelic beats, this record has a unique vibe to make it stand out from the crowd with some highly original tracks that you can easily lose yourself in. Sometimes it’s not the most straightforward album to listen to but Matt demonstrates a wealth of different Rock/Metal passages which are never boring and downright original in places.
Overall, A Cosmic Year is a highly rewarding and superbly entertaining record with Matt C. White proving why he could be considered one of the most original “solo” musicians within the Stoner Rock scene today.
Words by Steve Howe
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