Oftentimes when we’re dealing with anything that falls within the ever-shifting realm of psychedelics, the bands that go all-in with the sound tend to be the ones that stand out from the crowd the most especially if it’s done with any degree of mastery. Any given year has a select few albums that manage to deliver excellence of that caliber on an undeniably high level with those performances always the sort that fans constantly make sure to offer proper hails to, and it’s clear that Dead Otter’s latest creation is one of those efforts. Far more than a by-the-numbers work, this album is one that deserves any and all accolades it has coming its way.

Right from the very onset of coming onto this record, it’s made clear to the listener that this is not going to be some lightweight of psychedelia by any means whatsoever. With a title like “Bridge of Weird”, how can anybody expect anything other than an adventure into the offbeat and cosmic? Thankfully, Dead Otter immediately proves itself as a band that doesn’t just bite off more than it can chew. Rather, the term ambitious is what comes to mind for these psychonauts as the very whole of this record is what many come to expect from the modern landscape of psychedelic rock taken to its immense lengths with the instrumental nature of “Bridge of Weird” only further enhancing the wonder and spectacles that can be experienced in any given moment of the record. With five immense tracks across a 32-minute runtime, Dead Otter made damn sure that this record was the best that it could possibly be from its avenues into the far-off reaches of our consciousness to the very dust of supernovas playing a part in what the album has to offer. Whether it’s the more intense bursts of energy or the expansive reaches that open the mind’s eye, “Bridge of Weird” has a ton to offer for those who find themselves wanting to go on an adventure that only the best of psychedelia can bring to the table.

This is but the second offering that we’ve seen from Dead Otter, and already the future is looking immeasurably bright for the act. For all that was thrown down in this release and all that the band dared to tackle in a little over half an hour, the final concoction that we see here is nothing short of staggering by all accounts with Dead Otter becoming much more than a new name in a scene that can effortlessly feel densely packed with talent new and old. Instead, we’re given an effort that will be ringing in our head for years to come with the prospect of another adventure from their psychonauts something that I don’t think many will pass up on.

LISTEN to “Bridge of Weird” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Dead Otter on Facebook here.