It’s one thing to find yourself in a scene that’s almost constantly overflowing with potential, but it’s something else altogether to not only put yourself right in the thick of it all and then continuously prove yourself to such a degree that you’re now undeniably at the forefront of what that particular sound can become in its finest moments. I think it’s safe to say that it would be a dramatic understatement to say that heavy psychedelia as a whole has gone through quite a surge in recent years. We’ve seen tons of acts come out of the woodwork to show us excellence in its many different forms, yet that never once stops others from seeking glory through pushing the genre in their own ways. Maha Sohona is a name one should be well aware of in the modern state of the genre, and it’s throughout their third offering that this Swedish act only furthers their magnitude of hypnotism and splendor.

The best thing about this particular corner of the underground is likely how amorphous it is. Not something that can easily be pinned down and can take on a drastically different form as you go from one act to the next without ever shedding its core values, heavy psych is a place where tons of experimentation and fun can be had so long as the right talent steps into the limelight to show us what they’re made of. It was already just three years ago that Maha Sohona showed us what talent they had to offer, and now with “A Dark Place” we see that taken to a great new extent. Bringing together significant notes of stoner rock and wreathing it all in a darkly lit smoke complete with mysterium within its hidden depths and more than a little melancholy to make “A Dark Place” an unknown scape albeit familiar in such a way that’s hard to put your finger on, and Maha Sohona surely curated that sensation explicitly. Rather than seeking new horizons through feats of great exploration, Maha Sohona is masterful at turning the listener inward, allowing the spiritual machinations of the human soul to envelop you for all that they offer. “A Dark Place” could easily have become a solemn creation with no light, but it’s in practically every turn that Maha Sohona allows light to flicker in through its riffs and its gorgeous songwriting to ensure that the album is one that is as dynamic and captivating as it is evocative and well-crafted.

Maha Sohona has moved past their influences with this creation, making their sound undeniably their own with all the sprawling magnificence and wonder that one could ask for from heavy psychedelia of this sort. Likely the last great stop for this genre before 2025 comes to a close, it’s the entirety of “A Dark Place” that entrances you right from the beginning and never once relinquishes its grip upon your very soul.

“A Dark Place” releases on November 21st via Bonebag Records!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “A Dark Place” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Maha Sohona on Facebook here.

FOLLOW Maha Sohona on Instagram here.