At this point, it’s hard for me to imagine what can be possibly said about King Buffalo that hasn’t been said a million times already. This is just one of those seminal bands that always make headlines whenever they so much as shift in their seats, and it’s with good reason as they’ve become the act to know in the modern soundscape of heavy psychedelic music. They’ve consistently and constantly topped charts, multiple instances of immediate sell-out albums, inspire new acts to come out of the woodwork and provide glory of their own, and they’ve never once disappointed. King Buffalo is a name that must be synonymous with what it is to be virtually immaculate, and last year was truly their year with two supreme efforts released. There was a destined third, though. Its reveal was staggered for multiple circumstances, but it’s now that it can stand proudly on its own, and it staggers me to say that this may be my favorite from King Buffalo yet.

If you were to become familiar with the two most recent efforts from this band, “The Burden of Restlessness” and “Acheron”, you would realize after some time that they were two sides of the same coin that King Buffalo constantly finds itself flipping between: undeniable riffage and deep, hypnotic atmospheres, but both born out of immense psychedelia that simply cannot be denied in any form. As the last of a trio of albums that King Buffalo recorded in the madness that was 2020, it only stands as a natural thought that “Regenerator” would be the middle ground between the two that never once offers anything outside of an immense presence and eternal seduction through mastery of the craft. This is the kind of King Buffalo that anyone can get into. Whether you want the trippy riffs that punctuate every song as one that cannot be played quietly, moments of reprieve that prove tremendous contrast and spine-chilling atmosphere, or just an incredibly well-rounded experience the likes of which extremely few other acts could ever hope to craft in such staggering detail, when has King Buffalo ever been the wrong answer? Never! But, it has certifiably got to be with all that was brought forth in “Regenerator” that this band has crafted yet another album that has no worries about being considered one of the year’s absolute best. It’s an essential listen that is as intoxicating, magical, and captivating as one could ever hope for with the listener all but compelled to truly engorge themselves in all that is on display here with every round somehow more delicious than the last. It feels like I’m saying it with every new album from King Buffalo but I have to every time – all that is “Regenerator” is the very apex of what heavy psych is capable of with King Buffalo surely being the only act that can’t surprise us with such god-tier quality and pristine musicianship anymore. After nine years of taking over the scene, what isn’t King Buffalo capable of?

I really didn’t have to tell you that “Regenerator” would be another wild success for King Buffalo, didn’t I? They could literally sell us air in a jar, and we would scramble to buy as much as we could strictly because of them being the ones to sell it, but it’s with all that was delivered in this new opus that we’re given a display of power and immense talent that simply cannot be ignored, and fortunately, we already know it won’t be. To fall into all that is “Regenerator” is to find yourself in clouds of supreme bliss and unimaginable wonder, and I can only hope to see you as I continuously drift between the riffs and through the fascinating atmosphere for years to come.

“Regenerator” releases on September 2nd!

LISTEN to the single, “Regenerator”, on Bandcamp here or via YouTube below.

LIKE King Buffalo on Facebook here.