There are some things that just make sense. At some point, you begin to develop expectations after picking up on patterns over the years, and while not all of them stay as a pattern given the unpredictable nature of the world of music itself, there’s still plenty of consistency to be had. In my own experiences, there are plenty of bands out there that are quite consistent in their habits to the point where it feels almost certain that they will meet those expectations after a certain amount of time. As one of them, I know in my soul that it’s never long before The Re-Stoned comes back around with new material. On top of that, a new pattern has started to form with their stellar “Stories of the Astral Lizard” series with the upcoming third volume adding further consistency through excellence for the psychonauts.

At any given moment, I feel confident in saying that it’s never long until we are blessed with new material from The Re-Stoned. Their perseverance in their own corner of instrumental psychedelic rock has long been something to be admired, yet it’s with “Stories of the Astral Lizard” that the trio stands out even more. Pushing their typically groovy riff-filled heaviness into a world of pure psychedelia through slowing things down, allowing a universe to be born in every track, and experimenting with all sorts of different songwriting and instrumentation, The Re-Stoned has been carving out new territory for itself with this series to tremendous effect. That proves to be no different throughout the twelve hypnotic tracks of “Dreams from the Outside: Stories of the Astral Lizard Vol. 3”. While heavier in plenty of moment versus its predecessors, the very soul of this record is something that remains unchanged with the attitude, approach, and mentality of this record constantly presented in such a hypnotic form that one has no choice but to become addicted to the mellow drifts, otherworldly rhythms, and spectacular songwriting that allow this over-hour-long experience that is truly expansive without boundaries sonically, physically, nor emotionally.

A record like this almost feels like you’re returning home. It can be a dark and cold world out there, and the warmth of what The Re-Stoned has constantly captured throughout this series is something to be studied and honored for what it dares to channel from the inner depths of your soul, and “Dreams from the Outside” is no different! Everything falls into place as this dimension twists and bends in such a way that is nigh on captivating for all the right reasons as the worries of the flesh and the weariness of the spirit become irrelevant in the face of such ethereal mastery which The Re-Stoned holds complete mastery over. From the sprawling scope of the songwriting to the raw energies to the overwhelming euphoria that permeates virtually every given moment of the record, “Dreams from the Outside” is far more than simply another addition to a series that’s sure to become legendary. Rather, it shows us how far The Re-Stoned has come, how far they still have yet to go, and how utterly quintessential the name is to their entire genre.

Much like its predecessors, this is an experience that demands to be taken. Drift back, allow the work to take your hand, and let the cosmic waves wash you towards a distant unknown shore where anything is possible. Even long after you return to our comparatively dull corporeal realm, the sweet flavors, scents, and whispers of “Dreams from the Outside” echo in your psyche, begging you to take another swim.

“Dreams from the Outside: Stories of the Astral Lizard Vol. 3” releases on Kozmik Artifactz on October 17th!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Dreams from the Outside: Stories of the Astral Lizard Vol. 3” on Bandcamp here.

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