Release Date: March 19th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Lucid Machines. - Tracklisting
1.Wherewithal
2.Lucid Machines
3.Hollow Frames
4.Ancient Veins
5.Circuits
6.Binary Dreams
7.Left To Mend
8.Static
9.Fleeting Currents
10.Mimic
Members
Mark Kilbride (vocals)
Benji Straker (guitar and vocals)
Jeremy Straker (bass and vocals)
Layne Rybchinski (drums and percussion)
Review
Lucid Machines is the latest album from Sludge/Stoner Rockers Gnarwhal who embrace an Eighties heavy New Age sensibility within their music which gives the record a whole contemporary sound. Though the thrilling Sludge Rock aspect allows Gnarwhal to keep within the modern day Psych/Post-Stoner movement that’s perhaps the most popular sound within the underground scene. Adding ice-cold Post-Rock themes against a dominant gloomy atmosphere which really comes alive thanks to the epic rhythm section laid down by Jeremy Straker (Bass) and Layne Rybchinski (Drums / Percussion).
This allows Benji Straker’s guitars to operate through a maze of Prog Rock/Metal sounds with an epic cinematic Sludge Rock score reminiscent of the likes of WEEDPECKER, HOWLING GIANT and KING BUFFALO with shades of YOB appearing just for good measure. The vocals are impressive throughout with lead vocalist Mark Kilbride being helped along the way by great work by Jeremy and Benji providing back up vocals.
Lucid Machines works best when Gnarwhal start thinking outside of the box and start developing areas of music such as Doom, Shoegaze, Alt Metal, Post-Punk and Noise Rock leaving you fully immersed with the excellent melodies that are formed throughout the album.
Just to make this record more offbeat I detected other influences as diverse from The Cure, HUM and even Duran Duran. Though, that may just be me thinking too much of what’s going on with the whole album especially on the standout tracks of Wherewithal, Lucid Machines, Hollow Frames and Circuits which make up my favourite parts of the whole album though the second half is equally as good.
Gnarwhal always feel they’re on the cutting edge of developing a highly original sound of their own with intricate Ambient sounds, Electronica Beats and distorted levels of FUZZ.
The lyrics are wonderfully insightful, telling the dangers of technology and the resistance that we all must become part of and the global emerging threat of A.I. Though, if fans are just here for the music then the record fully delivers on that score with a ferocious Sludge Rock/Metal sound starting to become more dominant with heavy moments of Doom, Stoner Rock and Psych Rock vying for complete control.
Other great tracks to check out are: Binary Dreams, Left To Music and Fleeting Currents that sees Gnarwhal once more fuse highly atmospheric landscapes with that bombastic style of Heavy Psych and Sludge Rock they captured perfectly at the very start of the album. Lucid Machines never plays out the way you expect with this being quite a forward thinking and riff-fuelled musical adventure.
Gnarwhal have released an outstanding record that will no doubt become a major favourite with almost everyone who listens to the album. It’s simply that great.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Gnarwhal and Small Fry Music for the promo.
Links
http://facebook.com/gnarmusic
http://instagram.com/gnarwhalsounds
https://gnarwhalband.bandcamp.com
