We could sit here for days on end discussing up-and-coming names when it comes to the worlds of heaviness, psychedelia, and, especially, where they intersect. Be they big names that go on tours on separate continents or small acts still operating primarily out of their basements or garages, a keen eye and open ear in this sound opens one up to a spectacular world the likes of which cannot be compared to anything else in all of music. While many would be reasonably expected to find the names of Domkraft, Slomatics, or Dopelord upon their lips, one name rightfully demands to be included in the conversation. Their debut laid the groundwork for a promising future, and it’s with their sophomore effort that Acid Magus seizes the opportunity with ambition, passion, and tenacity.

Bringing in more than a few of their rock-oriented tendencies to make for an even more eclectic blend of intensity and psychedelia that only the most engaging names of the sound are able to bring together in tremendous form, Acid Magus was never playing around. That being said, they managed to somehow up the ante with “Hope is Heavy” as we see everything that was thrown down with its predecessor two years ago, “Wyrd Syster”, taken and built upon as Acid Magus learned every possible lesson that they could have in order to make its follow-up not just a worthy creation but something that truly is deserving of being dubbed a great successor. From the soaring melodies to the peak use of psychedelia to its vast range of intensity, Acid Magus has its sound down to a wondrous science. “Hope is Heavy” comes to life beautifully in all of its six tracks spread across a 43-minute runtime as Acid Magus constantly shows us what they’re made of with it being a tremendous blend of intoxicating riffs where you want to feel the wind in your hair for and trans-dimensional trippiness that permeates every given aspect of the record that always shifts such that it becomes damn near impossible for the listener to ever truly pin down in any single given moment.

Some may argue that this isn’t much different from what many others have done in this sprawling section of heaviness, but I implore you to allow the very personality of Acid Magus to take you places that only it can deliver you to. Should you do that then “Hope is Heavy” will take you to another world altogether the likes of which we likely won’t see more of until Acid Magus returns with their third effort.

LISTEN to “Hope is Heavy” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Acid Magus on Facebook here.