Release Date: October 02nd 2026. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
The Blacklight Sessions - Tracklist
1.The Whiskey Elf 04:43
2.Low Not Slow 05:03
3.The Long Song
4.A Greater Meaning
5.Mountain
6.No Hope
Members
Ryan Ferrier - Guitar / Vocals
Chris Sweeney - Bass
Johnny Kathman - Drums
Review
Psych Stoner Rockers Valley Of The Sun return with their sixth album The Blacklight Sessions and their first for legendary Heavy Psych Sounds record label. The music is highly energetic with the band playing a faster and heavier style of music that leans further into the Heavy Psychedelic scene than ever before. The songs are insanely melodic with some great moments of Doom, Space Rock and Sludge Rock sounds moving throughout the album.
The opening track The Whiskey Elf is an instrumental number with Valley Of The Sun playing to their main strengths which has a more direct energy compared to their previous albums. This is a great track to open the album with as it allows the listener to get accustomed to the band’s new found Psychedelic delivery but still keeping their classic sound fully intact. Sometimes this song feels like the band are paying homage to the legendary Nineties Stoner Rock/Metal scene with cues from the likes of KYUSS, Monster Magnet and FU MANCHU that can be heard along the way.
Second track Low Not Slow is one of the standout tracks with a slight detour into Fuzz Rock and Blues Rock soundscapes with a thrilling backdrop of classic Hard Rock melodies that Valley Of The Sun are known for. The vocals from Ryan Ferrier have a great style of Stadium Rock energy appearing as he provides one of his best vocal performances in years. This is highly energetic Stoner Rock/Metal of the highest order as the song provides some of the best sounds on the whole album especially if you’re a fan of good old fashioned Desert Rock / Stoner Metal.
Third track The Long Song is aptly named, running over ten minutes in length with Valley Of The Son operating with a classic Post-Rock and Post-Stoner delivery that reminds me of Yawning Man and ELDER in places. The song does incorporate some cool sounding Ambient and Sonic flourishes for the first few moments before Valley Of The Sun offset this against a backdrop of Fuzzed Out grooves with a dynamic Stoner Rock/Metal delivery holding everything together. This allows the band to move into areas of pure Amplified Heaviness which may be one of the heaviest and loudest tracks we’ve experienced from the band. There’s some great sounding Progressive jam based passages that have you rocking out until the very end.
The second half continues with that great style of Fuzz, Psych, Space Rock and Stoner Metal goodness but with an epic grounded approach being created on tracks such as A Greater Meaning, Mountain and No Hope. Valley Of The Sun start to reinvent their core sound for the better especially on A Greater Meaning and Mountain.
The music is highly addictive once more with the band exploring new musical themes that result within some droned out moments which was highly unexpected. Though, Valley Of The Sun still offer their own great style of music they’ve created and maintained over their acclaimed career but with this being their sixth album, this feels like a major rebirth for the band. The songwriting is super tight with a fresh perspective that feels fully fleshed out compared to their last record.
The Blacklight Sessions is a masterful collection of great tracks that once again solidifies Valley Of The Sun as one of most essential Stoner Rock/Metal acts we currently have right now. Long may that continue. Add this to your collection right now. It’s seriously that great!!!!
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo..
The Blacklight Sessions is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.
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