Exclusive Album Premiere Of Psych/Alt/Stoner Rockers SOLAR MANTRA New Album STATE OF JOYFUL LIGHTNESS

Bio & Background

Solar Mantra are a stoner rock band from Rome, Italy, formed in 2017 as an instrumental desert and psychedelic project. Over time, the band evolved into a more structured and expressive unit, incorporating vocals and expanding their sonic identity toward a blend of stoner rock, grunge and heavy psych.

Their debut album “Away” (2021, Argonauta Records) introduced the band to an international audience, showcasing a balance between heavy riffing, atmospheric textures and melodic songwriting. With a sound rooted in the tradition of bands such as Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Clutch, The Sword, Greenleaf, Dozer and Danzig, Solar Mantra established themselves as a solid presence within the European stoner rock scene.

Thanks to the cool folks over at Grand Sounds Promotion and Argonauta Records we're excited to premiere the whole album in full with this stream below:

About the Album

With their second full length “State of Joyful Lightness,” Solar Mantra take a decisive step forward, embracing a darker and more intense sonic direction while preserving the melodic sensibility that defined their earlier work.

Compared to “Away,” the new album leans toward a heavier and more aggressive approach, enriched by psychedelic elements and lyrics that explore personal experiences, relationships and obsessions. The songwriting reflects a more mature and cohesive vision, where groove, weight and atmosphere coexist with dynamic and memorable hooks.

A key element of the record is its production process. The album was recorded through live sessions and mixed using an analog system, a choice that allowed the band to capture the natural energy of their performances. This approach results in a warmer, more organic and vintage sound, enhancing both the raw impact and the emotional depth of the material.

The band comment:

“State of Joyful Lightness is a different album from our previous work, ‘Away,’ with a generally darker and more sinister sound. We’ve retained some psychedelic elements and lyrics focused on personal experiences, relationships, and obsessions, but always prioritizing heaviness and some catchy melodic moments. The most notable features, however, are the live recording sessions, which allowed us to capture the naturalness of our performances, captured via analog mixing system, which gave a warmer and more vintage flavour to our songs.”

Tracklist

Dynamite 05:15
Avetrana 02:30
Appaloosa 05:53
A Brand New Grave 03:42
Holy Water 04:59
Lucky Mia 05:13
Morning Glory 05:03
Shelter 05:07
Piñacolada 04:17
Raging River Of Fear (Captain Beyond cover) 03:50

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details. 

State Of Joyful Lightness is available to buy now on CD/DD via Argonauta Records.

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Solar Mantra - State of Joyful Lightness (Album Review)

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

Solar Mantra,Doom Rock,Desert Rock,Fuzz Rock,Psych Rock,Stoner Rock,Album Reviews,Steve Howe,Argonauta Records,Grand Sounds Promotion,

Stoner Metallers Solar Mantra Reveal New Album “State of Joyful Lightness” and Release Second Single “Dynamite”

Following the release of their comeback single “A Brand New Grave,” Roman stoner rockers Solar Mantra unveil full details of their upcoming sophomore album “State of Joyful Lightness,” set for release on May 8th, 2026 via Argonauta Records on CD and digital formats, alongside the release of a brand new track, “Dynamite,” now available with an official lyric video: 

With “Dynamite,” the band delivers a powerful statement of their renewed sound, combining crushing riffs, driving grooves and a darker, more aggressive edge while maintaining the hypnotic and melodic traits that define their identity. The track further expands Solar Mantra’s sonic palette, balancing heaviness and catchiness with a raw, organic feel.

“State of Joyful Lightness” marks a significant evolution from the band’s 2021 debut “Away.” While rooted in stoner and heavy rock traditions, the new album dives into a more shadowy and intense atmosphere, enriched by psychedelic textures and emotionally driven songwriting.

The band comment:

“State of Joyful Lightness is a different album from our previous work, ‘Away,’ with a generally darker and more sinister sound. We’ve retained some psychedelic elements and lyrics focused on personal experiences, relationships, and obsessions, but always prioritizing heaviness and some catchy melodic moments. The most notable features, however, are the live recording sessions, which allowed us to capture the naturalness of our performances, captured via analog mixing system, which gave a warmer and more vintage flavour to our songs.”

Recorded through live sessions and analog mixing, the album captures the band’s natural energy and delivers a warm, vintage infused sound that enhances both its heaviness and dynamic range.

Drawing inspiration from acts such as Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Clutch, The Sword, Greenleaf, Dozer and Danzig, Solar Mantra continue to refine their blend of desert rock, grunge and heavy psych, pushing their sound into a more mature and cohesive direction.

Tracklist

Dynamite 05:15
Avetrana 02:30
Appaloosa 05:53
A Brand New Grave 03:42
Holy Water 04:59
Lucky Mia 05:13
Morning Glory 05:03
Shelter 05:07
Piñacolada 04:17
Raging River Of Fear (Captain Beyond cover) 03:50

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/SolarMantraStoner
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.

Fuzz/Stoner Rockers Solar Mantra Return With New Single “A Brand New Grave” Out Now

Argonauta Records proudly announces the return of Italian stoner rockers Solar Mantra with their brand new single “A Brand New Grave,” available now on all digital platforms: https://song.link/solarmantra_bng

After the release of their acclaimed debut album “Away” in 2021, Solar Mantra step back into the spotlight with a track that marks a powerful new chapter in their sonic evolution. “A Brand New Grave” blends thick desert grooves, gritty grunge tension and hard rock drive into a darker, heavier and more focused creative milestone.

Known for merging evocative stoner atmospheres with muscular riffing and strong melodic sensibility, Solar Mantra draw influences from bands such as Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Clutch, The Sword, Greenleaf, Dozer and Danzig, shaping a sound that is both raw and cinematic. The new single pushes their identity further, delivering massive low end, hypnotic grooves and an aggressive edge that reflects the band’s growth since their debut.

Formed in Rome, Solar Mantra started as a desert psych instrumental project before evolving into a full band with a strong vocal driven approach. Their debut full length “Away,” released by Argonauta Records in 2021, introduced them to a wider international audience thanks to its balance of fuzz, atmosphere and songwriting depth.

In 2025 Solar Mantra returned to the studio to record their second full length album, “State of Joyful Lightness,” focusing on a heavier approach while keeping the melodic traits that defined their earlier work. The sessions saw the band collaborating with Danilo Silvestri as co producer and sound engineer, pushing their sound toward a more massive and modern dimension.

The band comment: “We’re thrilled to continue working with Argonauta Records. Gero helped us get our first album, ‘Away,’ out there beyond our expectations, and we hope to do even better with our new album’”

“A Brand New Grave” is the first glimpse into this new era.

More details about the upcoming album will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/SolarMantraStoner
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the details.

Solar Mantra - Away (Album Review)

Release Date: September 03rd 2021. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Format: DD/CD

Away - Tracklisting

1.Stone Rider 03:43

2.Pacciani 04:47

3.Candyman 03:47

4.Monster from the Abyss 04:17

5.Mazinga 05:22

6.Thiz Iz 05:45

7.Hard as a Stone 04:30

8.Hurricane 04:41

9.Crown 04:44

10.The Snake 04:06

11.Solar Mantra 06:59

Members

Tommaso Santillo - Voice

Francesco Carretti - Guitar

Federico "Quattro" Lombardi - Bass

Simone Bianchini - Drums

Review

Away is the new album from Italian Desert/Stoner Rockers Solar Mantra with the band leaning firmly on the 90s scene for a heavier sound that has an early Orange Goblin and KYUSS twinge within their overall sound. The album is perhaps a tad too long but you can’t deny the quality of the songs held on Away. As this album moves between the different levels of Fuzz Rock, Desert Rock and aggressive Stoner Metal. The band even finds the time to add strands of Classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal which you can hear in the excellent opening song Stoner Rider.

Second song Pacciani has a “Velvet Revolver” attitude and style to it but still being a Desert Rock/Stoner Metal song. THe music is plentiful and heavy with a buoyant attitude and the vocals have a troublesome feel to it. The song is a mixture of 90s Stoner Metal attitude and a modern gloomy vibe. This song shouldn’t really work but it does and that’s down to the cool inventive and different styles of music the band have employed here. The song is quite soulful within the quieter moments before the heavier grooves fully take over.

Third song - Candyman - opens with heavy grooves before the band bring a groove straight from legendary hard rockers “CREAM” were known for and the “sweet-natured” lyrics make this song quite a funky and fun little number. 

From here on in, Solar Mantra play a mixture of different styles of Desert Rock and Stoner Metal for the remainder of the album with Tommaso vocals being the best thing about this record. The dude can sure sing and he has a great vocal style and delivery all of his own but the whole band bring their “A” game to the party and make this album a refreshing change of style.

Other great songs to checkout are: Monster From The Abyss, Thiz Iz, Hurricane, The Snake and Solar Mantra.

The second half of the album is perhaps the most exciting part of the record with the best ideas, songs and heaviest grooves can be found especially on the final 3 songs of the album.  As I said earlier in the review, the album is a tad too long but it’s the journey that Solar Mantra takes you on with this record that makes it such an exciting listen. The band never play it safe and take some bold creative choices on this record which ultimately works to their favour. This makes Away a fantastical and action packed record that will satisfy your Desert Rock/Stoner Metal cravings.

Argonauta Records are releasing this record and it’s good seeing Gero putting the spotlight on these guys and it showcases another great band from the Italian Stoner Rock/Metal scene. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR.

Away is available to buy now on CD/DD via Argonauta Records.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp