Born from a lightning-fast 5-day recording session in Mannheim, Germany, the historic birthplace of the automobile, REISE is a collaborative cosmic exploration by space-rock purveyors Spiral Drive (Raphaël Neikes) and psychedelic-pop eccentric Lord Fascinator (Johnny Mackay).Meaning “Journey” in German, REISE is a seamless, gapless concept album engineered to be the ultimate soundtrack for movement. Built on the relentless, hypnotic pulse of traditional Krautrock and injected with heavy modern fuzz, the record takes the listener on a five-stage transit from the asphalt of Earth straight into the deep unknown of outer space.Five chapters. Five modes of transport. One continuous trip.

Night Parade of One Hundred Demons is the fifth studio album by the San Diego heavy psychedelic rock power trio Earthless, released on January 28, 2022, via Nuclear Blast Records. The album serves as a definitive return to form, abandoning the shorter, vocal-driven tracks of their 2018 record Black Heaven to return to the massive, sprawling instrumental jams that defined their early career.

Visions in Bloom (2022) is a masterful and refreshing journey through progressive psychedelic rock, heavily infused with 90s alternative textures and punky fuzz. Often described by listeners as a glorious, meandering rock opera akin to the heavy, infectious craftsmanship of Queens of the Stone Age, the album seamlessly bridges the gap between catchy hooks and powerful sonic explorations. Stylistically, Spiral Drive balances neo-psychedelia, grunge, and space-rock sensibilities, creating dynamic, texturized soundscapes where every track feels distinct yet flows effortlessly into the next. Driven by driving basslines, swirling guitar riffs, and layered production, the album serves as a captivating, high-energy trip that establishes the band as a powerhouse in the modern psych-rock scene.

At times the album’s sound has nods to classic Swedish 70s psych/prog/folk acts such as Arbete & Fritid, Charlie & Esdor and Träd, Gräs & Stenar. ‘Vakna’ takes on this influence, progressing across nearly six minutes of swaying, warping guitar solos, without ever breaking out into chaos.

SLIFT’s ILION is a towering work of rock music, a steamrolling record that starts at the highest peak and never lets up. If that sounds overwhelming, trust that this Toulouse trio have you in good hands. Their third full-length feels massive and oceanic, merging the furious intensity of metal and the wigged-out guitar heroics of psych rock with post-rock’s epic sense of scale. ILION is the kind of music where you listen to it and think to yourself, “This came from only three people?” It sure did, and SLIFT’s utter ferocity is way more than a tempest in a teacup. It reaches outwards for miles and creates new zeniths within unforeseen horizons of rock.

It’s been nearly eight years since the last Mondo Drag album came out. In that time, the Bay Area psych-prog band toured the US and Europe, performed at major festivals and—once again—reformed their rhythm section. But in the context of the band’s nearly two-decade existence, this period may have been the most fraught. Vocalist and keyboardist John Gamiño lost friends and family members. Meanwhile, humanity suffered the throes of a global pandemic.

Whether dwelling in the realm of dreams or nightmares, the primordial drive of the Newcastle-based band is more powerful than ever. Land Of Sleeper, their fourth record in a decade of riot and rancour, is testimony to this: the sound of a band not so much reinvigorated as channelling a furious energy, which only appears to gather momentum as the band’s surroundings spin on their axis.