ALBUM REVIEW: Cosmic Awakening – Lord Elephant
The unknown and enigmatic psychedelic entity that is LORD ELEPHANT has come through the cosmos via Italy to deliver fizzing psychedelic riffs to the masses. Despite being formed in 2016, the band have taken the slow approach in creating their first ever offering Cosmic Awakening. Looking to take you on a journey with no distinct final destination, LORD ELEPHANT bind heavy music and psychedelia in an expansive, experimental manner. Shifting through kaleidoscopic shades of light and dark, Cosmic Awakening utilises a vast range of genres along the psychedelic spectrum as it progresses through its various moods and movements. With a focused starting point, the Italian trio follow their instincts to create an episodic songs that transition effortlessly into one another to create a rich soundscape of sound that will transport you beyond this world and the next.
The strength of the album’s foundation lies in the steady cohesion and chemistry of the members in the band. Pooling their vast and varied experiences together, Cosmic Awakening is a delightfully eclectic listening experience. Whether the band spent their time receiving messages from the ancients to ignite their passion and ambition, taking the album’s title as literal and prophetic awakening, you can tell that LORD ELEPHANT made significant use of the time they had to create the monolithic songs that they have. Cosmic Awakening is an intricately structured and decoratively constructed album that demonstrates the band’s exemplary comprehension of stoner and psychedelic music. Whilst the destination of the journey may be open to interpretation, the intent to deliver is palpable; everything feels as though it has a purpose and every small detail adds to the bigger picture.
With that in mind, Cosmic Awakening has a surprise around every corner. It’s not often you get an album that can’t sit comfortably within the confines of its sound as you are listening to it. With every minute you hear a new phase start to open up, instinct directs the music with a wonderful curiosity for the unknown. Underpinning this is the band’s innate cohesion to journey through these realms of musical consciences without fear. Moving through passages of acidic psychedelia, earthy heavy blues and grimy, fuzzing stoner/sludge, you are continuously left on the edge of your seat as you eagerly anticipate what is coming next.
LORD ELEPHANT also make a considerable effort to entrance and hypnotise you with swirling riffs and ever changing grooves; speeding up and slowing down at will, it leaves you disorientated in the best possible way. Without lyrics to distract you, you get completely lost in Cosmic Awakening’s opulent psychedelic soundscape. Knowing that there are no lyrics to distract you, the music does an excellent job of providing a narrative structure, as the album’s melodies guide you through the ever evolving sonic landscape that lays before your feet. Dreamy psychedelics give way to heavy stoner riffs that pack punches that could shake the roots of a mountain. Nothing feels predictable and you are able to unleash your mind and immerse yourself in the band’s cosmic adventure. There is definitely a prog element behind all the fuzz, blues and bass distortion.
Initiating the meditative mindset needed to venture on this journey of musical magic is Cosmic Awakening Pt. I – Forsaken Slumber. Its initial feedback loops of flanges, choruses and delay effects help you arrive at the beginning of your own Cosmic Awakening. As the song slowly builds it acts as an entrancing first step in to the world that LORD ELEPHANT have created around them before erupting into Cosmic Awakening Pt. II – First Radiation. In a moment that can only be described as the snapping open of your third eye, you’re immediately launched into gritty stoner grooves awash with overdriven fuzz.
Eight-minute epic Hunters Of The Moon feels like a pursuit across the cosmos. Grounding itself firmly in heavy sludge riffing, it’s easily the fastest paced song on the record. From that point onwards more psychedelic elements come into play. Desert Collision and Stellar Cloud indulge the listener with back beat grooves and spaced out melodies. Album closer Secreternal sends the record out with a bang, with thrashing, seemingly revolving riffs taking you on one last joy ride through the depths of space. Throughout the album, there is a surprising amount of space that allows the riffs to breathe and the listener to bask in the fuzzy space in between.
It’s taken the entirety of the band’s existence to create Cosmic Awakening and through those years of experience collecting and musical adventure, LORD ELEPHANT have produced an invigoratingly lively set of songs. It’s a wonderful experience to get lost in an album that is as rich and luxurious as this.
Rating: 8/10
Cosmic Awakening is set for release on July 8th via Heavy Psych Sounds.
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