A lot of people tend to go for doom for the heaviness, and while that’s something that I constantly come back for time and again it’s the recurring use of psychedelia that draws me back more than anything. It all depends upon the band, of course, but psychedelic doom is something that I can always salivate over, and it’s been too long since a band really impressed me with their take. Monte Luna went right over my head almost a year ago when this album was released, but I simply couldn’t pass up plugging such a stellar record.

There’s nothing quite like mixing together some crunchy riffs and then cover that in a nice, thick blanket of psychedelia that brings all of the material in question to a whole other plane of existence. Yet, many bands can get lost on themselves by trying to sound too trippy and lose some quality towards trying to make it all sound good. Luckily, the phenomenon that is Monte Luna didn’t stumble for even a second as their eponymous debut full-length album is the very definition of a triumph that showcases plenty of what this band is likely to bring back in the near future. And if you’re like me and also like the longer tracks that doom is also known for then the twelve to seventeen-minute tracks that are packed with eclectic riffs and brimming with plenty of diversity from meditative rhythms to immersive soundscapes adorning this beauty that Monte Luna has somehow summoned forth. The last time I heard a record like this that managed to properly bring psychedelia and heaviness to the table while making it damned good from start to finish is Zaum, but Monte Luna show us with but six tracks that they’re no pushovers and demand our attention!

With a brand new vinyl release, I simply couldn’t help but bring attention back to the grandeur that Monte Luna gave to us almost an entire year ago. There are many bands that bring both heaviness and psychedelia to the table in spades, but it’s rarely that we’re treated to a performance that can only be described as top-notch from front to back. I’m sure it won’t be much longer before Monte Luna makes a devious return, and I’ve no doubt it’ll be even more marvelous than this piece somehow.

LISTEN to “Monte Luna” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Monte Luna on Facebook here.