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Release Date: 8th May 2026. Record Label: Argonauta Records.Formats: CD/DD
State Of Joyful Lightness - Tracklisting
Dynamite -5:15
Avetrana - 2:30
Appaloosa - 5:53
A Brand New Grave - 3:42
Holy Water - 4:59
Lucky Mia - 5:13
Morning Glory - 5:03
Shelter - 5:07
Piñacolada - 4:17
Raging River Of Fear (Captain Beyond cover) - 3:50
Review
Five years have passed since Psych/Stoner Rockers Solar Mantra released their debut album Away which established as them an exciting force of nature with their own blend of Stoner Rock sounds with Classic Hard Rock influences being used to superb effect. The band have returned with their latest album State Of Joyful Lightness which has a more sullen blend of Grunge, Psych, Alt-Rock, Doom and Post-Punk themes. With an ever growing display of diverse musical influences, Solar Mantra aim for a heavier and gloomier sound whilst keeping within the Stoner Rock groundwork they delivered on their debut album.
The sound of the album can be dominated by Stoner, Psych and Alt-Rock influences before changing into a Punk Rock aesthetic which you can hear within the first two opening tracks of Dynamite and Avetrana. These two tracks alone lay down the musical rules that Solar Mantra applies for the whole album. There’s a great style of Stoner Rock/Metal passages inspired by the likes of KYUSS, DOZER, CLUTCH, TRUCKFIGHTERS and FU MANCHU with that spicy Post-Punk and Punk Rock delivery that Solar Manta conjures up for a subversive style of music.
The lyrics are quite off-kilter and rebellious at the best of times with the band employing a sudden shift into sonic passages and cinematic Doom Rock surroundings on certain stages of the album. State Of Joyful Lightness isn’t the most easy going of albums which is down to the excellent lyrics and experimental vocals that are added along the way. The record is never straightforward at the best of times with the different themes and gloomy atmospherics that adds a layer of mystery to the album on tracks such as Appaloosa, A Brand New Grave, Lucky Mia, Morning Glory and Shelter being some of the best, heaviest and action packed sounds on the album.
Solar Mantra does include a cover of the classic Captain Beyond track Raging River Of Fear and I’m not the biggest fan of the band and I hope the band aren’t too upset when I say this is the weakest track on the album. Solar Mantra’s performance itself is excellent but I just don’t like this song at all. Though, fans of both Solar Mantra and Captain Beyond will think I’m perhaps some out of touch underground hipster who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Apart from that minor complaint, State Of Joyful Lightness is a stunning sophomore record from Solar Mantra which sees them transform into a heavier and exciting entity compared to their debut album. The record never plays out like a traditional Stoner Rock/Metal album with the band being bold and brave enough to inject some levels of surrealism and grounded reality into their music.
State Of Joyful Lightness is an absolutely great record that Solar Mantra should rightly be proud of.
Words by Steve Howe
