Release Date: May 01st 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Live At Libertad 2026 - Tracklisting
1.Degeneration 05:32
2.Beamed 05:20
3.On a Wave 07:48
4.Stream of Time 08:33
5.Sun Go Down 09:25
6.Feral 07:59
7.The Pilgrim 09:18
8.Song of Saturn 13:33
Review
Psych/Prog/Stoner Rockers Wheel Of Smoke return after a seven year absence by releasing their live album Live At Libertad 2026. The record which was recorded on 05th April 2026 at café libertad in Leuven, Belgium sees the band play a collection of their most well known tracks built up across their excellent discography. If you’re new to Wheel Of Smoke’s world then the band plays a great style of Psych Rock, Space Rock, Prog Rock, Stoner Rock and other stellar sounds from the area of Classic Rock.
This record has a stripped back atmosphere which captures the band perfectly in a raw vibrant “LIVE” setting and you can tell that very minimal work was done in the recording studio / behind the scenes for this album. There are a lot of rough sounding moments captured on this record which only adds to the overall effect as it allows the listener to be part of the action. This is quite an involving and long drawn out album but it’s never boring with Wheel Of Smoke changing their musical style and delivery through various stages of the album.
There’s a sublime “Jam based” energy to Wheel Of Smoke of how they delve into the area of Sixties and Seventies Psych Rock then adding levels of modern Stoner Rock heaviness when you least expect this. The majority of the tracks are powered by an expressive style of Instrumental Rock with influences such as Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Earthless and The Doors can be heard for the best sounding moments on the album.
Wheel Of Smoke are quite hard to describe as they have a "chameleon" approach to their music with some wonderful Spaced Out And Ambient effects emitting from the vastness of the actual venue itself. The music can be quite “Jazzy” and “Experimental” in places which allows the grounded Progressive and Post-Rock elements to hold everything together on tracks such as: Degeneration, Beamed, On A Wave, Sun Go Down, The Pilgrim and Song Of Saturn.
Live At Libertad 2026 is quite an involving album with Wheel Of Smoke delivering a highly engaging seventy five minute live album where there’s plenty of fantastic instrumental solos to lose yourself in. Wheel Of Smoke fully commit themselves to their musical craft on this album and their entire performance can only be described as a “masterclass of instrumental rock music”.
It’s great to see Wheel Of Smoke back releasing new albums and I’m hoping they will be releasing new music in the very near future as they’ve been sorely missed. This album is proof of that and I’m hoping the underground scene welcomes the band back with open arms and help promote this great live album like their lives depended on it.
Words by Steve Howe
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