Album
Type:
Full-length
Date
Released:
24th
July 2015
Label:
TeePee
Records
Sacri
Monti – S/T - Track Listing:
Staggered In Lies
Glowing Grey
Slipping From The
Day
Sitting Around In A
Restless Dream
Ancient Seas And
Majesties
Sacri Monti
Members:
Brenden Dellar
-Guitar
Dylan Donavon-
Guitar
Anthony Meier- Bass
Evan Wenskay- Organ,
Synth, Echoplex
Thomas Dibenedetto-
Drums
Bio:
California
psychedelic heavy rock champions SACRI MONTI blaze a scorching trail
of superb shredding and smoldering riff-o-rama on their Tee Pee
Records debut. Roughly translated as "Sacred Mountains",
SACRI MONTI blazes a scorching trail of superb shredding and
smoldering riff-o-rama on their impending debut. The record is a
searing smorgasbord of muscular rock that boils '70s guitar rock down
to its purest essence while simultaneously skyrocketing a pathway
towards the future of molten heavy psych.
The five-piece,
which features drummer Thomas Dibenedetto of JOY and Radio Moscow
bassist Anthony Meier in its ranks, will drop its self-titled debut
on July 24. Boasting a sound best described as "a mix of early
70's underground hard rock, with psychedelic and krautrock elements",
SACRI MONTI joins a blooming Tee Pee roster that includes fellow San
Diego associates Harsh Toke, JOY and the genre's founding fathers,
Earthless.
Fingers bleed,
eardrums implode and craniums collapse when SACRI MONTI cranks up its
bitchin', blistering buzz. Tune in, turn it up and BURN!!
Review:
Sacri
Monti's style of Hard Rock is firmly rooted in the 1970s. Shades of
Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Hawkwind and Led Zepp all play a major
part in shaping Sacri Monti's sound. Though the band do like to shake
things up with slabs of Krautrock as well. Sacri Monti is made up of
members of Radio Moscow and JOY. So if you're into those two bands
then Sacri Monti is going to win you over in a big way. It took me a
few attempts to actually warm up to Sacri Monti's style of
Psychedelic Rock as I've been so out of the loop with Psychedelic
outfits such as Sacri Monti.
My
initial thoughts there are a ton of great ideas struggling to get out
as Sacri Monti pack a lot of different styles where it felt it was
getting bogged down by the high amount of different noises and riffs
that the band have created. Then around the 3rd or 4th listen I
started to enjoy the album more. Opening track - Staggered In Lies -
starts rather quietly before strands of vintage Psych Rock start to
appear and playing subtle hints of 60s/70s guitar worship. It becomes
ever so louder as time goes by and once the groovy organs kick in
then this album finally comes alive. The vocals have an early Roger
Daltrey vibe as the spacy synths and noises almost drown out the
impressive vocals.
Though
that's Sacri Monti's style of music as the vocals are constantly in
the background and the space rock/psych rock sounds are the main
attraction here. Shades of Psych Rock legends - Earthless - can be
felt here as Sacri Monti play some exciting jam-based riffs. Sacri
Monti have included some heavy doomy moments within their The Doors
inspired organs and synths. That's the vibe you will pick up from the
opening song and with 5 other songs to listen to, Sacri Monti have a
few surprises coming your way.
Second track - Glowing Grey - is a
heavy psychedelic offering with plenty of fuzz and guitar reverb
feedback that creates an unsettling feeling with the riffs being
played at maximum levels for a groovy distorted ride. The vocals blur
between the lines of reality as they drift from dimension to the
next. Though it's the crazy psychedelic riffs that grabs your
attention and never let’s go. Yeah. I dig this album a lot and I
can see why TeePee Records signed them to their roster as they have
the perfect balance between the classic 60s/70s sounds and the more
modern day hard rock sensibilities.
Third
track - Slipping From The Day - has a few psych freakouts that would
make Jimi Hendrix proud. It's one of the albums strongest tracks and
one that I can see the band playing to a hypnotic major Psych/Stoner
Rock festival crowd such as Freak Valley. I wouldn't be surprised to
see Sacri Monti appearing at festivals such as Desertfest, Freak
Valley and other great festivals of that ilk. This album is going to
win Sacri Monti a huge wave of followers within the Psych/Stoner Rock
scene. This album is an exciting psychedelic ride from start to
finish especially when the 2nd half of the album starts as Sacri
Monti become crazily inventive with their music and ideas.
Fourth
track - Sittin Around In A Restless Dream - which wouldn't go a miss
from an Uncle Acid album. Crazed space rock sounds from both the
guitars and organs provide another psych freakout session with the
band having the time of their lives. Once fifth track - Ancient Seas
And Majesties - has finished weaving its trippy 60s inspired magic
spell you're wondering where the band will take you next. Well you
ain't heard nothing yet as Sacri Monti turn their attention to the
world of Progressive Rock with the wonderfully creative 12 minute
plus song - Sacri Monti. It's the albums standout song where the band
will take you on a final epic journey where the lines between fantasy
and reality become blurred. Jam-based riffs are the main order of
business with Sacri Monti weaving different majestic styles of rock
to leave you in a blissful hard-rocking state.
Sacri
Monti's debut album is one that surprised me in a big way. Yeah it
did take around 4 to 5 listens to fully appreciate the whole
experience. So expect to take your time with this album. All in all
Sacri Monti have created a stunning debut album.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Carl at Action PR for the promo. Sacri Monti - S/T will be available to
buy from TeePee Records on July 24th 2015.
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