Ten years after their self-titled debut album, the Greek band Naxatras, which has established itself in the heavy rock scene over the years, is back with a new release. With their blend of Heavy Psych, Space and Progressive Rock, today the lineup has stabilised into a quartet, with the presence of keyboards to enrich the sound. Entitled “V,” it is scheduled for release on February 28, 2025 via Evening Star Records and contains 8 tracks between 5 and 6 minutes long each. The album opens with the atmospheric intro of “Celestial Gaze,” which soon evolves into an elaborate Heavy Psych/Prog piece with rich keyboard textures. The warm and expressive vocal is enveloping and takes us through the musical textures of guitar and keyboards. Interweaving intense vocal and instrumental parts, culminating in a fine guitar solo insert, the track captivated me from the start with its enveloping sound. Space sounds permeate the following track, “Spacekeeper,” contaminating the band’s Prog/Psych with electronic sounds. Keyboards and effects modulations take us into Cosmic and Space Rock musical territory, with references to music of the past but proposed with a personal touch by the band. The flute gives a touch of World Music to the piece, taking us towards Oriental atmospheres and then giving way to a solo guitar intervention. Oriental atmospheres also permeate the following “Numenia,” enriching the solid rhythm section with percussion and a killer bassline, deep and driving. Very interesting this journey that embraces sounds of different cultures, proposed with a Psychedelic Rock imprinting. The choral vocal guides us towards this pleasant musical journey, which in the middle part leads us to explore through a prolonged instrumental section Experimental sounds first. In the second part, the intensity increases in a musical crescendo that incorporates Heavy Psych and Space Rock elements that accompany us to the finale. “Utopian Structures” opens with a background of electronic keyboards with atmospheric traits, to which the rhythm section is added. The intensity increases as the minutes go by and the central theme of the song evolves, through refined guitar inserts and melodies with modulations and effects that are layered. The bass line is load-bearing for the sound of the piece, which is developed in the second half with a fine instrumental section with keyboards taking center stage. Granitic guitar riffs characterize “Breathing Fire,” a piece with a hypnotic bass line and solid drumming in the rhythm section. Electronic sounds of keyboards, effects and vocal interplay in the verses characterize a sound close to Krautrock. In the instrumental section that is developed in the middle part the organ first and the flute enrich the sound that turns into a Heavy Psych imbued with Oriental traits that accompanies us until the finale with hypnotic vocal parts. With “Legion” he enhances the more electronic side of his sound, with the use of skillfully modulated keyboards and synths. The rhythm section is solid and elaborate with percussion enriching the sound, enhanced by the presence of traditional instruments in the melodies. The Eastern influences here are more evident and are perfectly interwoven with more modern electronic ones, creating a dynamic and engaging piece. The longest track on the album, “Sand Halo,” opens with a sound a la Doors. A load-bearing and hypnotic bass line drives the sound along with drumming and keyboard interventions. the vocals are warm and expressive, and the band then develops a fine instrumental section in the middle section with the chitrara in evidence. With the return of the cetral theme and singing for the last stanzas the song closes. Arpeggios and dreamy atmospheres open “The Citadel,” the album’s closing track, characterizing its first part more Psychedelia. In a continuous musical crescendoa the band develops an intense instrumental, incorporating more Heavy and Prog elements in the second part. An album that confirms that this band is one of the most interesting in the modern Psychedelic Rock scene. Solid, well composed and performed tracks that offer the band’s carfacteristic sound while incorporating electronic and World Music elements. A recommended listen to all lovers of new sounds between Heavy Psych, progressive Rock and many quality ideas to be discovered within.
Tracklist
01. Celestial Gaze (5:05)
02. Spacekeeper (5:09)
03. Numenia (5:09)
04. Utopian Structures (5:29)
05. Breathing Fire (5:17)
06. Legion (4:51)
07. Sand Halo (6:01)
08. The Citadel (5:55)
Lineup
John Delias / Guitar & Vocals
John Vagenas / Bass & Vocals
Kostas Charizanis / Drums & Percussion
Pantelis Kargas / Keyboards & Synthesizers
[…] “A recommended listen to all lovers of new sounds between Heavy Psych, Progressive Rock and many quality ideas to be discovered within.” – Progressive Rock Journal | Read the full Review here: [Review] Naxatras – V […]