Psychlona: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
Stoner rock, space rock and psychedelia have to be three of the most enduring rock and metal forms in existence. From all conquering progenitors BLACK SABBATH, through many other luminaries such as HAWKWIND, KYUSS and ORANGE GOBLIN, there is rarely a lack of appetite for a band that has a sound harkening back to yesteryear. Even more mainstream rock bands such as WOLFMOTHER can be found with a multitude of references to such in their music, be it the more psychedelic sounds or some of the more splintered takes that the likes of CROWBAR and their ilk spew forth across the musical waves. PSYCHLONA have moved into their eighth year of existence now, celebrating it with the release of their fourth full album and latest opus, Warped Vision.
While they have endured with a sound that feels somewhat reminiscent of the likes of space rock lords HAWKWIND, there has been a slight shift as their releases have taken on an air of something not quite the same as their previous release on each occasion. While it would be easy for them to have remained in their comfort zone, even with the addition of two new members, Phil Hey, their founding vocalist, songwriter and guitarist, and co were determined to forge on ahead, improving their burgeoning reputation.
“We’re not gonna become a thrash metal band,” laughs Hey. “Though hopefully it’s a bit more refined than it was!” As the discussion starts with the sound that the self proclaimed kebab ‘n’ roll desert rockers have attained on their latest release. With hints towards some of the more early and psychedelic PINK FLOYD releases, such as track One Of These Days, it’s certainly a slight sideways step from their previous albums. Still, it’s one that follows the path PSYCHLONA have trodden through the release of each full-length, with the bullish Bradford boys seeming to be ever expanding their fan base and reach into mainland Europe and beyond.
It’s a big step since their performance in the 2019 edition of the HRH Doom vs Stoner festival in Sheffield’s O2 Academy, where they made an early appearance, to have been releasing fairly prolifically, keeping pace with a release every two years. It’s a commendable approach to keep constantly refining a sound that harkens back to such older days, especially when such refining takes them down slightly different pathways than maybe their existing fan base are quite ready for. Beyond the semi-predictable risk of straying too far from what got their fans interested in them in the first place, there are many factors which can affect quite what happens with a band’s career, especially in somewhat harder times.
Even for such a measured bunch, not everything has been smooth sailing for the talented four-piece. “It wasn’t going too well, two of the guys had lost interest,” Hey continues, showing that not everything had been so easy to keep on track, especially when it came to the songwriting side of things. “If the enthusiasm is there with other people, the ideas come thick and fast. If it’s not, it’s hard to keep being bothered.” The arrival of two new members in Martin ‘(mark 2)’ Wiseman and Ian ‘Isak’ Buxton gave renewed impetus to Hey and drummer Scott Frankling, at a time when the band could have potentially just faded away as real life concerns during the cost of living crisis that has plagued the UK in recent years seeped further into their core. With both new members contributing the first ideas for a song each for the new album, it was clear that there was a meeting of minds, and the nucleus of sounds that became Warped Vision started to truly grow into more.
One of the more reassuring things is how grounded the members remain, though their Bradford roots are possibly a big factor in that. No nonsense, friendly and approachable as a town, that behaviour shines through in Hey‘s words as he goes on to discuss other acts that he enjoys, including lesser known lights such as Edinburgh’s KRYSS TALMETH EXPERIENCE and how parts of their approach gave him some food for thought.
That PSYCHLONA have refused to let themselves stagnate at any point, be that in sound or enthusiasm, shows a refreshing and somewhat earnest approach to their style – just good old fashioned music, with a somewhat more modern outlook on how to approach it. They continue to grow, taking their sound to new heights and to new places, as their forthcoming tour of Germany and Austria demonstrates, whilst never forgetting the roots in sound from where they started. But then, isn’t that so often how the music business goes? The more things change, the more they stay the same…
Warped Vision is out now via Magnetic Eye Records.
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