Release Date: September 25th 2026. Record Label: Heavy Psych Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
The Garden Of Forgotten Dreams - Tracklist
1. Cosmic Tide
2. The Garden of Forgotten Dreams
3. Bright Shadow
4. Astray
5. Turn to Stone
6. The Sunrise
7. River Moan
8. Old Hue
Members
Matteo Barsacchi - Guitar / Synth
Matteo Sciocchetto - Voice / Bass
Davide Salvadori - Guitar / Synth
Lorenzo Salvadori - Drums
Review
Heavy Psych Rockers MR. BISON return with their sixth album The Garden Of Forgotten Dreams that sees the band develop their dreamlike style of Progressive Stoner Rock into more soulful and hopeful Cosmic pastures. The record does feel like the natural step for MR. BISON to takeafter their acclaimed last two records that is finally allowing them to be mentioned in the same breath as the mighty ELDER and KING BUFFALO.
MR. BISON has a direct Space Rock sound merging with a grounded Heavy Rock approach which appears quite early on within the stunning opening track Cosmic Tide. A song that delves into the heavier style of Cosmic Doom, Space Rock and fast-paced Stoner Rock/Metal rhythms with some wonderful vocals by Matteo Sciocchetto adding a sublime narrative into the mix.
The second title track The Garden Of Forgotten Dreams is perhaps the turning point for the album as a sudden shift into Sludge Rock atmospherics allows this to be one of the heaviest and spaciest tracks MR. BISON has delivered in quite some time. The use of dramatic ambient shifts remind me of HUM in places which allows the music to be quite slow and emotionally effective before MR. BISON moved into the Heavy Psychedelic arena once more. There is always a different style of psychedelic and frenzied Stoner Rock aggression forming even when the vocals offer a “less is more” appearance to let the whole creative narrative of the album to fully form.
Third track Bright Shadow offers a great style of Prog Rock, Psych Rock and Post-Rock with that forward thinking Ambient Rock approach allowing MR. BISON adds Alternative, Doom Pop and Indie Rock themes to fully appear. There’s a trance like energy that can be heard within the most laid back parts of the song. The synths add a level of worldbuilding theatrics to be contained in the record as MR. BISON expertly create some highly original psychedelic melodies of their own making but some great o familiar strands that offer a warm hearted feeling.
Fourth track Astray is a straight forward song where the band opt for a riffier style of music instead of the Prog heavy masterclass that came before this. The music is quite direct but MR. BISON still plays a wide array of different Psychedelic and Cosmic themes with a subdued atmosphere holding everything together. Though, this allows the band to move further into the Sludge/Stoner Metal abyss with fast-paced grooves being the main order of play.
The second half of The Garden Of Forgotten Dreams sees MR. BISON returns to their roots in places with some expertly constructed Space Rock sounds that keep with warm hearted nature that changes into some intense extended instrumental musical soundscapes. The Ambient Synths impress yet again with great vocals helping MR BISON sell their dominant area of Psychedelic Doom which forms a great Prog Rock alliance on tracks such as Turn To Stone, The Sunrise and Old Hue.
You can hear some great Eighties Heavy Rock influences within this record which gives MR. BISON has quite a mature and reflective nature which develops into some surprising musical developments along the way.
The lyrics are excellent throughout and superbly insightful with some real passionate and singalong moments that I always find myself singing to myself. The Garden Of Forgotten Dreams is full of non-stop uplifting parts that leave you in a hopeful mood even if you’re facing some of life’s tough challenges.
The Garden Of Forgotten Dreams is an absolute triumph from MR. BISON that continues their great run of releasing unmissable and essential albums that everyone should add to their collection right now.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
The Garden Of Forgotten Dreams is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.
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