GIÖBIA - X-ÆON (Album Review)

Release Date: October 17th 2025. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

X-ÆON - Tracklisting

1.Voodoo Experience

2.Fractal Haze 

3.The Death of the Crows

4.1976 

5.Vers les Terres-Rouges (La Mort de la Terre) 

6.Les Ferromagnétaux (La Mort de la Terre)

7.L'Eau Fugitive (La Mort de la Terre)

8.Dans la Nuit Éternelle (La Mort de la Terre)

 

Review

Psych/Stoner/Space Rock legends GIÖBIA return with their eighth full length album X-ÆON that once again sees the band rewriting the rules for everything Cosmic Rock related as they continue to weave surreal levels of heavy magnetic sounds throughout the album. The record has a more aggressive and sludgier attitude compared to their previous records with opening track Voodoo Experience also opting for a nightmarish tone.

GIÖBIA still maintain their synth heavy and sound effects style of melody with subtle flashes of Post-Rock, Shoegaze, Stoner Rock and Electronica beats fully coming into life on the next batch of tracks with Fractal Haze, The Death Of The Crows and 1976. The sense of musical adventure is strong with GIÖBIA as fractal Space Rock structures fragment into creepy guitars and gloomy synths that demonstrates how the band are writing their own unique style of Space Rock that simply cannot be matched or beaten. 

There is a frenzied approach to GIÖBIA on this record which only amplifies or magnifies their music onto a different level of HEAVINESS that remains quite grounded despite the COSMIC atmospheres that’s being generated and played from every direction possible.

The vocals appear briefly throughout the album and only when they need to appear. As GIÖBIA seem content having minimal vocal interactions with their audience which they’ve done on previous records. Maybe having an album packed full of vocals would be too distracting for the band but it’s the right approach and gives a mysterious vibe and quality for X-ÆON.

The second half of the album is more experimental with GIÖBIA hitting upon classic themes and sounds from their earliest records but still striving for a modern creative vision on tracks such as Vers les Terres-Rouges (La Mort de la Terre) and L'Eau Fugitive (La Mort de la Terre) being two of the standout tracks on the album. 

With a free-flowing narrative and musical expeditions that rely on jam-based instrumental melodies then it’s hard not to be taken with GIÖBIA’s fascination with parallel universes and secrets from the vast reaches of space. Though, you’re still treated to a classic style of Seventies based Psych Rock which then branches out into glitchy sounds of subtle paranoia and lyrics inspired by the likes of Philip K. Dick at times, especially on the excellent track 1976. 

X-ÆON is another stellar and groundbreaking release from GIÖBIA that have earned their place as legends within the Psych/Space Rock scene. This album only solidifies that reputation and with masterful production values throughout the album which allows me to call this album as visionary, unique and absolutely MINDBLOWING.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

X-ÆON is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Giöbia - Plasmatic Idol (Album Review)

Release date: February 7^th 2020. Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Plasmatic Idol - Tracklisting

Parhelion

In The Dawnlight

Plasmatic Idol

Haridwar

The Escape

Far Behind

Heart Of Stone

In The Mirror House

Members

Bazu, Saffo, Detrji, Betta

Review

Plasmatic Idol is my first foray into Italian Psych Rockers Giöbia strange and very surreal world. I’ve heard of the band before but never given myself the chance to listen to their music. Truth be told that this album took a few listens to fully get on board with. As the band play their own style of Psychedelic Rock with Sixties and Seventies sounds appearing and allowing the band to create a more vibrant style of music.

The one thing that makes Giöbia standout from the crowd is their use and over-reliance on Synthesisers which is quite dramatic and offers an Eighties style Electronica vibe being woven into their DNA. The album is very multi-layered and the Psychedelic Acid Rock journey the band take you upon is quite varied but never boring. The vocals like the music are almost “dreamlike” with progressive Electronic grooves that are quite soulful to hear in places.

The best parts of Plasmatic Idol is where the band mix things for a crazier and surreal sound especially on songs such as: Parhelion, The Dawn Light, Plasmatic Idol, The Escape and Far Behind. As the band experiment with their sound to a greater level and there are riffs waiting to be found on this album that will appeal to fans of Pink Floyd, The Doors, Genesis and Hawkwind.

It seems that Giöbia have created their own stylish blend of Classic Rock for this album with the band focusing on the sounds from the mid-sixties upto the late eighties. You feel permanently stuck in a freakadelic and psychedelic timewarp with Giöbia entertaining you with their wide array of Progressive Acid Rock grooves and Electronic noises. The troubling thing is that you want to hear more and more. This album is a superbly entertaining album that oozes originality from start to finish.

Plasmatic Idol is Giöbia’s fourth album and I’m interested to hear their previous albums to see how they’ve progressed over the years to this style of music. Though, if you’re a beginner to Giöbia’s strange world then this album acts as the perfect introduction to the band.

Bolstered by excellent production values, Plasmatic Idol is an adventurous album that is deeply rich and rewarding for people who are willing to make the journey with Giöbia.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Purple Sage PR and All Noir PR for the promo. Plasmatic Idol will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via HeavyPsych Sounds from Feb 07^th 2020.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp