Typically, it takes a good deal of time and effort for a band to become ubiquitous in their style with it being up to luck as much as anything else for that name to spread to such a degree. Whatever it is in the case of Saint Karloff, it’s hard to deny to the sheer obsession that many seem to have for the Norwegian act despite it only dishing out material since 2018, but it’s in that time that they’ve made a name for themselves as one of the names to know in modern psych-rock in all regards along the likes of Psychlona. It’s been four years since we last heard from Saint Karloff and four years since the band lost their dear friend and founding member, Ole Sletner. What we see from Saint Karloff today is the natural progression for the band as we see the act recovering from such trauma, keeping their friend’s spirit alive, performing their vision to the fullest, and continuing to evolve their sound.

After you come off of a record like “Interstellar Voodoo”, an epic single-track album of 40 minutes, it’s hard to know where to go next, but that didn’t seem to be the case with Saint Karloff as they started the crafting of this new opus, “Paleolithic War Crimes” virtually immediately. With the passing of their bandmate, however, Saint Karloff finds itself with this record at an intersection in their career that sees them both still entrenched in the heavy psychedelic nature that has made Saint Karloff into what it is today with the new paths before the band proving to be a period of transition and sonic exploration. Abound with true, undeniable riffage and more than enough of that classic psychedelia worship that we’ve all come to expect from this act up to this point, the eight tracks of “Paleolithic War Crimes” stand as an impressive series of bangers lined up one right after another as Saint Karloff doesn’t just seek to push themselves forward into what all is still possible in the modern state of the scene, but to take the listener on a trip the likes of which only the best of today’s bands are able to summon. Heavy-handed in its lyrical themes as much as it is a real treat to those immersed in what it means to see heavy psychedelia taken to the extent of what it can truly be, “Paleolithic War Crimes” stands as a bold and exciting creation that both defines Saint Karloff and why we will likely never be able to really know what to expect from the act no matter how much we may try.

A return such as this feels damn near prophetic for all that is accomplished within its time. This is a creation that has more than enough power and otherworldliness to call its own many times over as Saint Karloff stands tall in whatever form they may choose to take with each just as potent as the last with nothing seeming to stand in their way. “Paleolithic War Crimes” is the return that many bands dream of, but it is all but fitting that this would happen to the likes of Saint Karloff given all they’ve accomplished up to today.

“Paleolithic War Crimes” releases on June 2nd via Majestic Mountain Records!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Paleolithic War Crimes” on Bandcamp here, or via YouTube below.

LIKE Saint Karloff on Facebook here.