Greetings. Maybe I need some medicine or something because I can't seem to focus on these posts anymore. But I don't want to treat my ADHD with pills. So...late again and half-assed. My picks for March include the incredible return of an already incredible progressive sludge band, a heavy psych send-off, and volume 2 of a one-man trip. Let's get to it. I have a busy day to be capped off attending a Parabolus show (the Complete Tool Experience).
Rwake - 'The Return of Magik': Rwake's 2011 album, 'Rest' is one of my all-time favourite albums. I thought the band was dead. It happens. Some of my favourite albums are final albums from bands that just disappeared. (I Hate Sally, Astrakhan, others) Naturally I hit the roof when out of nowhere the title track for 'The Return of Magik' just dropped out of nowhere. And holy fuck the title is spot on. The magik is back! It's so heavy. It's so emotional. Expansive. Deep. Magikal. It's so Rwake. Listening to it in the proper isolated environment produces an out-of-body effect. I need to study this album. Really get into the lyrics. It took over a decade to put this album together and it could take that long fully wrap my head around it. It's gonna be tough to knock this one off the top of my year end list. Listen for yourself.
Dead Meadow - 'Yoyager to Voyager': To the detriment of the world Dead Meadow bassist Steve Kille sadly passed away due to cancer. While the band does plan to continue, 'Voyager to Voyager' stands as Kille's final contrbution to the band. Not only will it stand out in their storied catalog for that reason alone but regardless it's simply one of their best releases period. Sure, knowledge of circumstances influenced the listening experience but you can't argue with how good it is. How Dead Meadow it is. Dead Meadow is a band I just "connect" with, right from the first time I head 'Howls from the Hills' playing in a record store and bought it immediately. If I'd heard this one I'd do the same. Their style of heavy psych definitely takes me on a voyage. It takes a weight from my shoulders, lifts me away from the damp, cold earth with its dynamic sway and entrancing melodies. Again, I really need to dig deep into this record and really understand it. Maybe once my preordered vinyl and CD finally show up!
Futuropaco - 'Fortezza Di Vetro, Vol. 2': Unfortunately El Paraiso Records doesn't use Bandcamp and Futuropaco only has one release on their page so the embedded link will have to be Spotify. Sorry. How do I even describe the album though. There are elements of funk, psych, and weird, fun electronics? Maybe what I feel as "funk" isn't accurate but it feels funky to me. It's got a certain groove that gets you movin' while the keys, fuzz, and psychedleic flourish isolate the pleasure centers of the brain. Layers upon layers weave in and out of this psychedelic journey. Like most of the stuff I listen to anymore it's something to sink into. It's all instrumental by the way. Justin Pinkerton does it again. I'd recommend it for fans of King Gizzard, Budos Band (no horns but whatever), or a bunch of other stuff on El Paraiso like Causa Sui. Check it out.
Two all-time favourite bands and one I'm just getting into. If you want to know what else I was into in March, here's my As I Go March 2025 Playlist. Honourable mentions to 'Yun' by Pyres and 'Mentalism' by Mantras.
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