Hands down, this has been one of my most anticipated creations for some time now and I won’t even begin to refute that. Ever since I had first started listening to The Re-Stoned, I knew that I had found something particularly special with the band’s special sense of psychedelia mixing boldly and brilliantly with their specific brand of heaviness via magnetic riffage, but it has to be with their 2018 album, “Stories of the Astral Lizard”, that the band had created something truly special for me and several others across the world. A maxed-out trippy album that was the very peak of what psychedelics in music can make, the distinct shift in the band’s sound for just one record made for one of the best works of the style for years to come. When I heard that a follow-up was in the works, I knew that it was going to be something special. Now that it’s here, it’s hard to imagine my playlists without it!

When you craft a follow-up like what we have here, it’s only natural that the core idea of the new effort would reflect that of the previous but there would be different vibes, themes, and emotions put into the new to truly make it a creation all on its own rather than a cheap copy. When it comes to all that The Re-Stoned brought to the table for “Stories of the Astral Lizard Vol. 2”, it’s all but obvious that these veterans of the riff pulled out some new tricks, learned from their previous experience, and took the sad state of affairs in their country into immense influences in order to make what’s their first double album effortlessly one of their best with it standing toe-to-toe easily with what they brought forth in that fateful record four years ago. This is the exact kind of work that many of us have needed more of in our lives whether we knew it or not with the world still reeling from the grips of coming to a halt for a full year and global struggles that affect our everyday lives with the best medicine I’ve found is to truly lose yourself in all that The Re-Stoned brings to the table for this undeniably detailed performance that takes the band to new peaks of creative wonders with psychedelia truly being the name of the game here, and it’s “Stories of the Astral Lizard” that continues to be a title that dominates the competition. Without a doubt, this must be heralded as one of the absolute best creations that the style will through our way this year when it’s all said and done for it will take something truly titanic to topple a creation like this, but who could ever possibly come toe-to-toe with The Re-Stoned? They have proven time after time that they are the kings of their craft, and they still show no signs of resigning that title anytime soon.

In a year where we’re seeing the return of some true greats from the world of psychedelia from the likes of My Sleeping Karma, Ufomammut, Sergeant Thunderhoof, Messa, and so many more, the sheer weight and wonder of The Re-Stoned’s irrefutable majesty makes this true spectacle of a performance one that simply must not be missed. There’s so much to lose yourself in with all that’s brought forth for “Stories of the Astral Lizard Vol. 2” and it’s whether or not there will be a third volume that I know for a fact this will be a constant in my listening habits for the rest of my life.

LISTEN to “Stories of the Astral Lizard Vol. 2” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE The Re-Stoned on Facebook here.