The very landscapes of psych-rock have long been fantastically compelling. To get lost in their expanses has become all but effortless switch how refined, expansive, and magical the sound has become in what feels like such a short amount of time, yet it’s still to this day that we’re able to find new bands that not only manage to expand the sound’s territory even further but bring us to deeper realms that we never could’ve expected before having our eyes open to them. Mount Desert is far from a new act, but having only released two songs seven years ago, it’s long faded away from the spotlight no matter what angle you look at the name from. But, with the release of their debut full-length album this year, Mount Desert can’t seem to escape the spotlight.

Any noteworthy band in the realms of psychedelia is always something to celebrate over no matter what, but to come across a band like Mount Desert has quickly proven themselves as it to come across a name with such wild potential that it almost hurts the mind to think about with the ensuing material all but godly once you find yourself in its midst. With the seven tracks that are to be found within “Fear the Heart”, we can immediately see Mount Desert setting the bar for themselves and their contemporaries for it is every given second of this creation that is all but awe-inspiring with its gorgeous atmospheres and a deep sense of what it means to make high-tier heavy psych that isn’t just a barrage of riffs despite how wondrous that can be. For the whole of the performance, Mount Desert focuses beautifully on what it means to lose yourself in the landscape of the western United States whether it be in its forests, mountains, desert, or cliffs overlooking the ocean that’s to be seen through their eyes. To surrender yourself to all that “Fear the Heart” has to offer is to find yourself deep in the woods of what’s sure to become hailed as one of the best works of heavy psych that we will see for the entire year with Mount Desert bringing to the table everything and even a little bit more to make this a record that’s more than worth our time: gripping riffs, intoxicating atmospheres, songwriting smoother than water, and true passion that permeates every part of the creation to its very core. The very winds and the calls of elks play a significant part in the crafting of this record, and it’s more than enough for many of us to already become loyal listeners, eagerly awaiting for our next meal whenever it may come.

Seven years is a long time between your entrance onto the scene and your first big step forward, yet it’s here that Mount Desert executes it with such godly precision and adept mastery of their craft that it makes one wonder just what else this duo is capable of. This is a viciously inspirational album like few others out there, and I’d be downright insulting if the seeds of this record and Mount Desert aren’t to be found in future albums years from now as this will surely metamorphosis into an underground gem much like Mammothwing or Cosmic Reef Temple!

LISTEN to “Fear the Heart” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Mount Desert on Facebook here.